Vandalism Charges - Rizio & Nelson

Definition of Vandalism
Vandalism is defined as "malicious mischief" under California law. Although it may sound like a juvenile crime, the penalties can be steep for individuals facing a charge of vandalism. California Penal Code 594 characterizes this offense as maliciously damaging or destroying property that does not belong to the defendant(s), or defacing it with "graffiti or other inscribed material."

That suggests that a broad range of destructive or unpleasant behaviors could be classified technically as vandalism, such as what initially appear to be very minor crimes, such as shooting at a stop sign or etching your name onto your desk. Typical types of vandalism include, but are not limited to:

	Home Vandalism
	Business Vandalism
	Motor Vehicle Vandalism
	School Vandalism
	Church Vandalism
	Cemetery Vandalism
	Hate Crimes
	Vandalism to Government Facilities
	"Tagging"
	Defacing With Graffiti
	Possession of Vandalism Tools
	Trespassing
	Public Urination

Vandalism may be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the monetary value of the damage the vandalism created. It is also subject to whether the defendant has any prior criminal record.


	If the damage is less than $400 and there are no prior offenses, the punishment is up to 12 months incarceration in a county jail, a monetary fine of up to $1,000, or both.
	If there is a prior conviction for graffiti or vandalism, the penalty raises significantly to 12 months in jail and/or a monetary fine of up to $5,000.
	If the damage is more than $400, then the case is usually classified as a felony and the defendant may receive up to 12 months in jail or a state prison term of as many as 36 months and a monetary fine of up to $10,000.
	If the damage is appraised to be $10,000 or higher, the monetary fine increases to $50,000 and may be enforced along with time served in county jail or state prison.

Over and above these penalties, a court may order any defendant convicted of vandalism to clean up or fix the damage in person, or to be forced to keep a property graffiti-free for up to 12 months. Parents of juveniles convicted of vandalism could be forced to assist in these efforts, unless it is considered detrimental to the convicted juvenile. People of all ages forced to complete this kind of community service can also be ordered to receive therapy. If a fine is imposed on a juvenile by the court, parents can be held legally responsible for it, unless considered a financial hardship.

The law offices of Rizio & Nelson will work to negotiate with prosecutors in order to lessen or do away with vandalism charges even before they are filed. Before they are filed, the district attorney's office must judge whether to file the case as a felony or a misdemeanor. In a few cases, our team of skilled vandalism attorneys may be able to convince the prosecutor not to file the charges at all.

If charges are filed, however, the Inland Empire vandalism attorney’s will plead for community service and graffiti cleanup duty rather than incarceration, especially for juvenile cases.

Do not allow a charge like vandalism to ruin your future or the future of a juvenile offender! Contact the Inland Empire’s vandalism lawyers today for your free initial consultation and allow us to begin to mount an aggressive defense and work to get rid of the charges as quickly as possible.