Malicious Injury to Property is no minor occurrence in Oklahoma. OSBI has estimated over 450,000 property crimes occur annually. Further,
over 100,000 of those property crimes are acts of vandalism, or legally “malicious injury” to property. This is a significant amount.
Malicious Injury Defined:
Title 21 §1760 of the Oklahoma Statutes states if any person “maliciously injures, defaces, or destroys any. . . . property” of someone else’s then they are guilty of malicious injury to property. This can range from graffiti on bridges and walls to egging a house or slashing tires. Unfortunately, many of us know these crimes often are the result of juvenile mischief and pranks intending to be harmless. The penalties however, can be harsh.
Penalties for Malicious Injury to Property:
Malicious Injury to Property is eligible for three different penalties in Oklahoma depending on the circumstances. First, if the property damage is less than $1,000 and it is your first or second offense, then the penalty is a misdemeanor. In Oklahoma, misdemeanors carry the possibility of jail up to 1 year and a fine of $500 or less.
Secondly though, if the property damage is over $1,000 total it is a felony. Whether it is your first or second offense does not matter. Finally, if you have been found to commit malicious injury to property on two or more occasions, then it is a felony. Additionally, after criminal charges and punishment, the person in charge of the property may bring a civil suit to recover more financial damages.
Our Tulsa Criminal Lawyers Can help You:
Here, we understand the damage felonies and misdemeanors can impose on your life. Even after completing the punishment and paying the fines you will have a criminal record that will follow you around for life. We don’t want to see you or your child suffer for life from what was meant as a harmless prank. We have experience in defending our clients against “malicious” property damage claims. Let us help you.