In Wagoner County Malicious Injury to Property Charges can end in jail time if convicted and if the In April of 2016 a Tulsa couple awoke to teenagers throwing eggs, bleach, and flour on their vehicles and home. The teenagers fled when the couple confronted them. However, if the vehicles remained covered with bleach and eggs in the morning monetary damage is likely to have occurred. This moves from childish pranks and vandalism into the realm of malicious injury to property. Oklahoma has thousands of these cases each year. Read on to learn more and what an attorney can do for you.
What is Malicious Injury?
We all know that vandalism is often a minor teenage crime. But under Okla. Stat. tit. 21 §1760 malicious injury occurs when a person “…injures, defaces, or destroys any […] property.” Further, this property must belong to another person. The use of chemicals and eggs may be grounds for malicious injury. Other acts in this category may be slashing tires or tagging a building with graffiti. While often malicious injury is a teen prank taken too far, the penalties are real and severe.
Charges and Consequences:
Oklahoma has three different categories for malicious injury of property.
- Damages less than $1,000 and a first or second offense: The charge is a misdemeanor with the possibility of jail time and a $500 fine.
- Damages over $1,000: The charge is a felony. It doesn’t matter if this is a first or second offense. Jail time and fines increase under felonies. This is often dependent on the amount of damages and other factors.
- Third Offense or more: Committing malicious injury is a felony if you have two or more prior similar convictions. Further, the property owner may bring a civil suit to recover more financial damages after the criminal conviction is complete.
Malicious Injury to Property Attorneys in Wagoner County:
Our attorneys understand that pranks in our youth or simple mistakes as an adult shouldn’t be a life ruining event. We are here to defend you or a loved one from malicious injury charges in Wagoner County. Don’t let you or your child suffer for a lifetime from a foolish prank that went too far. We tailor a defense specifically to your circumstances to give you the best possible support. Call us for a free consultation.
