Have you been charged with juvenile criminal mischief? Criminal mischief is broad category covering any damage of another person’s property, either with intent or because of reckless or negligent behavior. For young people, criminal mischief charges often come from graffiti, vandalism, damage to cars, damage to homes (like broken windows or smashed mailboxes), or damage to other personal items (like a smashed cellphone, slashed bike tires, or ripped clothes).
Juvenile Criminal Mischief | Penalties
The word “mischief” can be misleading: the charge, and the penalties involved, are very serious. If convicted of even the lowest level of criminal mischief (fourth degree), you would be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and subject to fines and up to one year in prison.
Damage to property valued in excess of $250 could be criminal mischief in the third degree, an E felony punishable by up to four years in prison.
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Damage to property values in excess of $1,500 could be criminal mischief in the second degree, a D felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison.
If you have damaged another person’s property by means of an explosive device, you are guilty of first degree criminal mischief, a class B violent felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
Juvenile Criminal Mischief | Hiring an Attorney
If you’ve been charged with criminal mischief, you need the counsel of an experienced criminal attorney. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you might be able to seek youthful offender status or reduced charges, or have the charges thrown out altogether. Facing the threat of serious prison sentences, there’s far too much at stake to face these charges alone and unprepared.
If you want fierce legal representation to defend your juvenile criminal mischief charges, please call our Buffalo criminal defense lawyer today for a free consultation.