Houston Criminal Mischief Lawyer
Defense Attorney representation in Harris County, Texas for 25 years
If you are charged with any type of criminal mischief, you need to know and understand the potential crimes you are facing.
In Houston, criminal mischief offenses are generally defined as intentionally damaging another person’s property. Types of damage are commonly referred to as destruction, alteration and defacement. Minor actions associated with criminal mischief often include vandalism or graffiti, and more serious actions include the destruction of the property.
Criminal Mischief Houston
According to Tex. Penal Code § 28.03, the following conduct can result in being charged with criminal mischief in Harris County:
- Intentionally or knowingly damaging or destroying another person’s tangible property;
- Intentionally or knowingly tampering with the tangible property of another person and causing financial loss or substantial inconvenience to him or a third person;
- Intentionally or knowingly making markings, including inscriptions, slogans, drawings, or paintings, on the tangible property of another person.
Penalties for Criminal Mischief
Depending on the value of the destruction or property damage, you could face misdemeanor or felony offense punishment. Section 12 of the Texas Penal Code defines the applicable penalties you may face with a criminal mischief offense:
- Class C Misdemeanor – A fine of up to $500 can be charged to you if the financial loss amounts to less than $100, or causes substantial inconvenience to another being.
- Class B Misdemeanor – A fine of up to $2,000 and/or a jail sentence of up to 180 days can be charged to you if the financial loss amounts to less than $750 but at least $100 or more.
- Class A Misdemeanor – A fine of up to $4,000 and/or a jail sentence of up to one year can be charged to you if the financial loss amounts to less than $2,500 but at least $750, or your criminal mischief offense causes impairment or disruption of any public water supply.
- State Jail Felony – A fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail sentence ranging from 180 days to two years can be charged to you if the financial loss amounts to less than $30,000 but at least $2,500 or more; less than $2,500 if a home was damaged through the use of an explosion weapon or firearm; less than $2,500 if a fence used to hold livestock, game animals, or poultry was destroyed or damaged; or less than $30,000 if your criminal mischief offense caused the impairment or disruption of public communications, gas power supply, transportation or any other public service.
- Third Degree Felony – A fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail sentence from two to ten years can be charged to you if the financial loss amounts to less than $150,000 but at least $30,000.
- Second Degree Felony – A fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail sentence from two to twenty years can be charged to you if the financial loss amounts to less than $300,000 but at least $150,000 or more.
- First Degree Felony – A fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail sentence from five to 99 years or life imprisonment can be charged to you if the financial loss amounts to $300,000 or more.
Criminal Mischief Defense and Representation
Criminal mischief might not seem like a major crime, but the fact that the damages could put peoples’ lives in jeopardy and disrupt public and private property this makes criminal mischief a much more serious offense, especially as the value of damage increases.
Therefore criminal mischief charges should not be taken lightly and it is important to have an experienced and aggressive Houston criminal attorney working with you to build the best possible defense for your case.
Contact Attorney James Sullivan
If you or a loved one is facing a criminal mischief offense, contact Attorney James (Jim) Sullivan today at 281-546-6428 for a free phone consultation.
James Sullivan is an experienced Houston Criminal Defense Attorney. For over 25 years, Sullivan has successfully fought the government in Jury Trials on behalf of clients in criminal and juvenile courts.
James Sullivan graduated from Baylor University in 1990 with a degree in Journalism, the ideal degree for investigating, discovering and telling winning stories in court. In 1993, Sullivan graduated from South Texas College of Law, which is nationally recognized as the top law school for trial advocacy.
James Sullivan later graduated from Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming. Founded in 1994, it is the most selective and prestigious trial advocacy program in America. The methods taught at TLC are not taught anywhere else. The 1,150 graduates form an extremely unique community of the most accomplished trial lawyers in the United States.
Contact James Sullivan & Associates for a free initial phone consultation at (281) 546-6428 about your theft charges in Harris County (Houston), Montgomery County (Conroe), Fort Bend County (Richmond), Brazoria County (Angleton), Galveston County (Galveston), and Waller County (Hempstead).
