The willful destruction of someone else's property is how malicious mischief is defined. Whether through graffiti, vandalism, or some other means, crimes of this nature are far more serious than many people realize. The severity of the charge is determined by the value of the property that was destroyed or damaged.
This means that merely spray painting a wall could lead to a serious felony conviction. The Kirkland malicious mischief lawyers from our law office can help you better understand this often complex and frequently misunderstood crime.
First Degree Malicious Mischief is a Class B felony. This charge results from property damage or destruction in excess of $5,000. If convicted of first-degree malicious mischief you could wind up with a ten year prison sentence, and fines totaling $20,000.
Second Degree Malicious Mischief is a Class C felony. This charge results from property valued from $750 to $5,000 being damaged or destroyed. A conviction of second-degree malicious mischief could result in a sentenced of up to five years in prison and fines totaling $20,000.
Third Degree Malicious Mischief is a gross misdemeanor. This charge results when damaged property is valued below $750. While this is not as serious as a felony malicious mischief charge, a conviction could still land you in jail for up to a year and incur fines of up to $5,000.
By using our decades of combined criminal legal experience, the Kirkland malicious mischief attorneys at the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe understand how to defend clients against these serious criminal charges. Our criminal attorneys have handled dozens of malicious mischief crimes, and we know how to attack this charge.
We have also learned that there are often two sides to almost every malicious mischief allegation, especially when the alleged victim is a spouse, a former girlfriend/boyfriend, or a relative. In these cases, it’s absolutely critical that your side of the story gets told. Our Kirkland criminal defense lawyers will ensure that your version of what transpired is heard.
For Further Details, Contact Our Kirkland Malicious Mischief Lawyers TodayAvenues of defense that you might not have considered may be possible. Our Kirkland malicious mischief attorneys will seek to determine whether these defenses are possible by conducting their own investigation of the facts.
Proving the value of the destroyed or damaged property is the responsibility of the prosecutor in every malicious mischief case. This means that your Kirkland lawyer may be able to have your charges reduced if their calculations prove erroneous. This could mean in a reduction in maximum prison time from 10 years to 5 years if the amount of the property was near the dividing line for a Class B and Class C felony.
Minimizing your punishments whenever possible is our number-one goal. This is why our criminal attorneys may even bring in an expert to offer testimony as to a piece of property's true value. There is a big difference between a valuable family heirloom and a worthless item that is only perceived to be valuable by the owner. The difference between the two could directly affect your freedom.
Get more information about malicious mischief law in Washington State by contacting one of our Kirkland criminal lawyers today. Your consultation is free. The details of your criminal case will determine the various lines of defenses we explore. Remember that it takes time to prepare a defense, so please call our Kirkland law office without delay.
If you're worried about the cost of our legal fees as we handle your malicious mischief case, please note that we offer our clients convenient payment plans that acknowledge your budget. This means that you don't have to sacrifice the quality of your Kirkland legal defense as you do everything in your power to retain your freedom.