{"id":19064,"date":"2022-06-21T10:50:05","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T17:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=19064"},"modified":"2023-11-20T17:02:36","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T00:02:36","slug":"criminal-damage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/mesa\/criminal-damage\/","title":{"rendered":"Mesa Criminal Damage Attorney"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arizona law prohibits recklessly causing damage to someone else\u2019s property. The classification of a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/13\/01602.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">criminal damage<\/a>\u00a0offense will depend on the value of lost property and the type of damaged property. This crime is often charged as a felony and carries strict penalties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s essential that you contact a Mesa criminal damage lawyer as soon as you can if you\u2019re facing a criminal damage charge. They\u2019ll answer your legal questions and help you determine what to do next.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Criminal Damage Laws in Mesa<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You may receive a criminal damage charge in Arizona for the following behaviors:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tampering with and substantially impairing the value or function of property<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blocking livestock from accessing water by parking your vehicle in the way<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drawing a symbol, sign, slogan, or message on property (graffiti)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Defacing or causing damage to someone\u2019s personal property<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Purposely tampering with or damaging utility property<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aggravated Criminal Damage<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You may receive an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/13\/01604.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">aggravated criminal damage<\/a>\u00a0charge for damaging specific types of property. This is a felony crime, regardless of how much the property is worth, in the following cases:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tampering with or damaging an agriculture, utility, or construction site to take metals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Causing damage to property used for religion or worship purposes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Causing damage to an educational facility or school building<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Damaging mortuary or cemetery property<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Penalties for Criminal Damage in Mesa<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arizona law classifies and penalizes criminal damage offenses based on the severity of damage sustained, with charges typically including:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 4 Felony: If the damage exceeds $10,000, it may be charged as a class 4 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/arizona-felony-sentencing-chart\/\">felony<\/a> with up to 3.75 years imprisonment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/probation-violations\/\">probation<\/a> as the maximum penalties; any prior conviction could lead to up to 7.5 years behind bars and two prior convictions can lead to 15 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 5 Felony: If damage caused is between $2,000 and $10,000, this offense can be charged as a class 5 felony. A first time offender faces up to two years imprisonment while repeat offenses carry up to three and three-and-a-half year jail terms respectively; with two previous convictions coming with maximum sentences of seven-and-a-half years each time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 6 Felony: Damage exceeding $1,000 and $2,000 falls into this classification of felonies, and can result in maximum imprisonment sentences between 2 years and 2.75 years for a first offense; after any prior conviction, that maximum sentence increases to 5.75 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 1 Misdemeanor: Criminal damage between $250 and $2,000 can be classified as a class 1 misdemeanor offense, carrying with it up to six months in jail with probationary services as possible penalties.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 2 Misdemeanor: Any damage under $250 falls under this classification of misdemeanor offense and could result in up to four months in jail and\/or a $750 fine plus surcharge.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By working with a skilled criminal damage lawyer in Mesa, you may get your felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor. Having a criminal record can put a serious strain on your life, so it\u2019s best to pursue lesser penalties.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Defenses for Criminal Damage in Mesa<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you decide to work with a criminal damage lawyer, there are a number of defenses they may use for your chase. They could assert that there was a lack of criminal behavior and that the charges were exaggerated or fabricated. Alternatively, you may have caused damage without criminal intent, meaning you accidentally damaged property. The police may have forgotten to read you your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/miranda-rights-not-required\/\">Miranda rights<\/a>, which would count in favor of your case.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In some cases, your lawyer may be able to reduce the severity of your charges or even have them dropped altogether. The sooner you speak with a legal representative in Mesa, the quicker they can get to work and assist you with your case.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">JacksonWhite Law in Mesa, Arizona<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">JacksonWhite Law has been serving clients in the Mesa area since 1983. We offer a full range of legal assistance and have plenty of experience navigating cases just like yours with great success. As one of the biggest firms in the East Valley, we work to provide advanced, insightful legal solutions to families, businesses, and individuals throughout the state of Arizona.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">From fines, to probation and jail time, being in legal trouble is no laughing matter. It could harm your opportunities in life and even make it harder to find a place to live. Speak with one of our skilled lawyers today to get answers to your questions and to protect your future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>JacksonWhite Mesa Office<\/h3>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/mesa\/\">Mesa office<\/a> is on the northwest corner of W. Pepper and N. Center Street. You may park on Pepper or in the parking garage nearby.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mesaaz.gov\/government\/court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mesa city court<\/a> is located on the northwest corner of Pomeroy Street and 1st Avenue. You\u2019ll find a public parking garage behind the building, which you can access from Pomeroy or Main Street.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Call the JacksonWhite Criminal Law team at <a href=\"tel:4804184281\">(480) 418-4281<\/a> to discuss your case today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arizona law prohibits recklessly causing damage to someone else\u2019s property. The classification of a\u00a0criminal damage\u00a0offense will depend on the value of lost property and the type of damaged property. This crime is often charged as a felony and carries strict penalties.\u00a0 It\u2019s essential that you contact a Mesa criminal damage lawyer as soon as you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":0,"parent":19043,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19064","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - 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