If you are charged with criminal mischief it means the state beleives they can prove that you knowingly damaged someone else’s property, or property owned jointly with someone else.
Criminal Mischief can be a misdemeanor or a felony, and the difference is determined by the value of the property allegedly damaged.
Criminal Mischief is often tacked on in a case as an afterthought to more serious charges, but it can certainly stand alone. Too often, people who are accused of other crimes, like domestic violence, assault or theft, confess to criminal mischief in an attempt to get out of trouble on the other charge. For example:
Police Officer: I’m responding to a report of possible domestic violence.
Boyfriend: We were just having an argument, no violence here.
Police Officer to girlfriend: Someone outside saw you throw something.
Girlfriend: I didn’t hit anyone. I just threw this picture of us down to the floor and the frame broke.
This is also a good example of why talking to police when you are under investigation for any crime is generally a bad idea.
If you have been charged with criminal mischief, call criminal defense attorney Vernon Ready to get started on your defense.
