Phoenix Criminal Damage Lawyer

Criminal damage is the crime of damaging another person’s property. Most commonly, criminal damage charges are for:

• Defacing or damaging another person’s property.
• Substantially tampering with another person’s property as to impair its function or value.
• Drawing or inscribing a message, slogan, sign or symbol on any public or private building or structure.

In Arizona, criminal damage can either be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the dollar value of the damage. Penalties for criminal damage ranges, as follows:

• $10,000+ worth of damage – Class 4 Felony – Up to 3.75 years in prison.
• $2,000-$10,000 worth of damage – Class 5 Felony – Up to 2.5 years in prison.
• $1,000 – $2,000 worth of damage – Class 6 Felony – Up to 2 years in prison
• $250-$1,000 worth of damage – Class 1 Misdemeanor – Up to six months in jail.
• Less than $250 – Class 2 Misdemeanor – Up to four months in jail.

East Valley defendants facing criminal damage charges should promptly speak with a Mesa, Arizona criminal damage attorney to begin preparing their defense.