Bronx Criminal Mischief

The crime of criminal mischief is linked to an allegation when someone has intentionally destroyed or defaced the property of another individual. This crime may also be referred to as vandalism. Any crime charges are worth evaluating carefully. You might assume based on your conversations with law enforcement officers that the case against you is strong and that it would be better to accept a plea bargain and put this matter behind you as soon as possible. Understanding criminal mischief and any other supplementary charges, like theft, means knowing what you have ahead of you and putting together a defense plan with that in mind.

The prosecutors and officers may be counting on you making a mistake like this since it makes their job easier. You should never accept your fate as sealed until you’ve consulted with a criminal mischief lawyer in the Bronx first. Regardless of the kind of charges, the right criminal Lawyer is an asset to protecting your interests.

As a term in the criminal justice system, vandalism seems minor, but it’s a mistake to think of it that way. If you choose to ignore the charges or to hire a lawyer who doesn’t have a background in this field, you could end up paying the price come conviction time. This is especially true if you’ve been charged with criminal mischief in addition to other crimes at the same time. Your ability to protect your freedoms depends on whether or not you hire the right criminal mischief attorney in the Bronx as soon as you have been accused. Way too many people find themselves behind bars or dealing with other negative consequences because they didn’t take the time to find the right lawyer at the outset of their case.

Since vandalism is often viewed as a minor crime, people may suspect that there are not serious consequences on the line if they are arrested or even convicted of criminal mischief. There are several different degrees of criminal mischief; the lowest is criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor offense. This, however, can still be punished by up to a year in prison, even though it involves property valued only up to $250. When fighting these charges, you should not be without a Bronx criminal mischief attorney.

Another form of criminal mischief is graffiti. It’s a separate offense even if you are just caught with tools used to vandalize something.

Criminal mischief in the third degree is a felony in New York and applies to property valued between $250 up to $1500. If convicted of this crime, you could be looking at more than a year in prison. If you have been charged with criminal mischief in the second degree for property valued beyond $1500, this is a class D felony with serious consequences. Consultation with an experienced criminal mischief attorney in the Bronx is a must.

You could also be charged with criminal mischief in the first degree, a B felony, in the event that property was destroyed by the use of explosives. Several other crimes may be charged in conjunction with criminal mischief depending on the facts of your case, including burglary, possessing stolen property, petit larceny and robbery. When fight these charges, you should not be without a Bronx criminal mischief lawyer right away. Significant penalties could be on the line and your freedom is not worth the risk.

Criminal mischief can arise in numerous different ways and people may underestimate the potential impact on their life. If one driver cuts off another car and a conflict ensues, damaging the other party's car could be charged as criminal mischief and if the damage to the vehicle is more than $250, the defendant could be looking at felony charges. Identifying a Bronx criminal mischief attorney who is familiar with the laws and has helped other people fight off these charges is imperative for your case. You cannot wait to take action as the police will do everything in their power to identify information that helps to convict you.