Colorado Criminal Mischief Attorney
Under Colorado law, a person can be charged with criminal mischief when they are accused or suspected of damaging the property of another, including property owned by the person jointly or with another person or property owned by the person in which another person has a possessory or proprietary interest.
If the person charged is accused of damaging the property of someone they have or had an intimate relationship with (i.e., spouse, former spouse, significant other, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc., it will be deemed domestic violence), which is a sentencing enhancer.
The potential charge, jail time and fine are dependent on the value of the property. For example:
- If the value of the property is less than $300, it is a petty offense subject to up to 10 days in jail;
- If the value of the property is $300 or more, but less than $1000, it is a class 2 misdemeanor, subject to a possible jail sentence of up to 3 months to 12 months in jail;
- If the value of the property is $1,000 or more, but less than $2,000, it is a class 1 misdemeanor subject to a possible jail sentence of 6 months to 18 months in jail;
- If the value of the property is $2,000 or more, but less than $5,000, it is a class 6 felony subject to up to 1 year to 18 months in jail;
- If the value of the property is $5,000 or more, but less than $20,000, it is a class 5 felony subject to 1 to 3 years in prison;
- If the value of the property is $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, it is a class 4 felony subject to 2 to 6 years in prison
- If the value of the property is $100,000 or more, but less than one million dollars, it is a class 3 felony subject to 4 to 12 years in prison
- If the value of the property is one million dollars or more, it is a class 2 felony subject to 8 – 24 years in prison.
Although each charge in a criminal case carries a potential jail sentence, it does not mean the person will be sentence to jail. Having an experienced attorney on your side can help decrease the possible consequences. Call Black, Blink, & Associates LLC at 719-694-0578