One of the most broad and amorphous crimes on the Utah books is criminal mischief. As the name implies this crime is basically aimed at criminalizing any behavior that is criminal, and yes that statement is meant to make no sense. While the statute is not the easiest to understand there is common behavior that is usually cited as criminal mischief, and probably the most common is vandalism. One of the behaviors that is criminalized under the statute is intentionally damaging the property of another, so a typical scenario for criminal mischief often occurs in domestic disputes. For example a couple gets in a fight and they throw stuff around the apartment, when the police get their they both have very differing stories about whether or not domestic violence was actually committed but it is clear that property was damaged so if there was no domestic violence then someone will likely get charged with criminal mischief instead.
Penalties for Criminal Mischief in Utah
The possible penalties associated with a conviction for criminal mischief are like the statute itself very broad. In fact criminal mischief can range from a class B misdemeanor to a second degree felony. That means that depending on the circumstances criminal mischief could go from a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine to up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. While those are maximum penalties and will most likely not be the actual result it still illustrates the variance in criminal mischief penalties. The reality is that most criminal mischief charges are of the vandalism variety and are charged as a class B misdemeanor.
Layton Criminal Mischief Lawyer | Getting a Criminal Defense Attorney in Northern Utah
If you are being charged with criminal mischief then it is important that you have an attorney whether it is being charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. At Ogden Criminal Defense Lawyer we can help you protect yourself against these charges and get you the best outcome available, so call or email us today.
