The crime of Criminal Mischief is defined under Pennsylvania criminal law as the act of intentionally, recklessly, or negligently damaging or defacing someone else’s property. Depending on the amount of damage involved, it can be a serious Felony offense, but any criminal charge must be taken seriously, and can have significant consequences to your life.
Criminal mischief can be any kind of action that causes property damage to another person. It could be graffiti, tagging or vandalism, or it could be as a result of a domestic dispute, road rage, or other disagreement.
Pennsylvania Criminal Mischief Penalties
If the damage caused by the act of criminal mischief is in excess of $5000, then the crime is charged as a Felony in the third degree (Felony 3), which a maximum penalty of up to 7 years in prison.
If the damage caused by the act of criminal mischief is in excess of $1000, then the crime is charged as a Misdemeanor in the second degree (Misdemeanor 2), which a maximum penalty of up to 3 years in prison.
If the damage caused by the act of criminal mischief is in excess of $500, or it is a graffiti/defacement offense causing damage of over $150, then the crime is charged as a Misdemeanor in the third degree (Misdemeanor 3), which a maximum penalty of up to 3 years in prison.
Any other charge of criminal mischief would be considered a summary offense.
Please call for a free consultation if you’ve been arrested or accused of criminal mischief in Pennsylvania. We can offer you some advice on what you can do, and how we would be able to help you if you choose our attorneys to represent you. There’s no obligation for the initial phone consultation.