Denton Criminal Mischief Lawyer

There are only a few different reasons why you can be accused of criminal mischief in the Denton area and throughout the state of Texas. Several recent cases that have been handled by The Goolsby Law Firm include keying cars and vandalism.  You could be in court to respond to charges of criminal mischief if the prosecution believes that you have done any of these:

  • You have knowingly or intentionally damaged a property that belongs to another person
  • You have knowingly or intentionally  tampered with a property that belongs to another person resulting to loss or considerable inconvenience, or
  • You have intentionally made graffiti, marks, drawings or inscriptions on a property belonging to another person.

Criminal mischief has several classifications, depending on the circumstances as well as the value of the damage to the property.

Criminal Mischief Class C Misdemeanor

A charge of criminal mischief could be considered as a class C misdemeanor if the resulting damage has a value of less than 50 dollars or resulted to considerable inconvenience to other people. The punishment for class C misdemeanors in the state of Texas is a 500 dollar fine.

Criminal Mischief Class B Misdemeanor

A criminal mischief offense that is considered as a class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine that can be as high as 2,000 dollars and jail time that will not exceed 180 days. The offense will be considered as a class B misdemeanor if the resulting damage is more than 50 dollars but less than 500 dollars.

Criminal Mischief Class A Misdemeanor

Criminal mischief could be considered as a class A misdemeanor if the resulting damage is more than 500 dollars but less than 1,500 dollars or if the act resulted to damages that is less than 1,500 dollars but caused interruption of public transportation, power, gas, public communications or other public services or if the offenses resulted to any interruption or impairment of public water supply. A class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 4,000 dollars fine and jail time that will not exceed one year.

Criminal Mischief State Jail Felony

A criminal mischief offense will be considered as a state jail felony if the resulting damage has a value of:

  • From 1,500 to 20,000 dollars
  • Less than 1,500 dollars but it is a habitation and the damage to property resulted from explosion or fire or
  • Less than 1,500 dollars but the property is a fence that was designed to contain game animals or livestock.

State jail felony offenses have a punishment of from 180 days to two years in state jail as well as fines that can amount to 10,000 dollars.

Criminal Mischief Third Degree Felony

Criminal mischief could be considered as third degree felony if the resulting damage is from 20,000 to 100,000 dollars. It is punishable by from two to ten years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 dollars.

Criminal Mischief Second Degree Felony

Criminal mischief will be classified as second degree felony if the resulting damage is from 100,000 to 200,000 dollars. It is punishable by from two to twenty years imprisonment and fines of up to 100,000 dollars.

Criminal Mischief First Degree Felony

If the damage resulting from criminal mischief amounts to over 200,000 dollars, the offense is classified as first degree felony. The potential sentence for this offense is from five to 99 years imprisonment and fines up to 10,000 dollars.

I will fight to protect your rights through each phase of the case, all the way through the trial.   If you have been accused criminal mischief in North Texas, contact us at The Goolsby Law Firm right away. We will ensure that your rights are protected in court.