Mankato Property Damage Defense Lawyer

Everyone pays money to obtain and maintain the property. When that property is damaged, that is the same as losing money and that’s why it is considered a criminal act when someone damages someone else’s property. If the property owner didn’t consent to the damage, Minnesota law states that a person can be charged with a crime.

If you or a loved one has been charged with damaging someone’s property, it is important to secure the representation of an experienced Mankato criminal defense attorney in order to defend yourself. You have rights that need defending, as well as a future, and only a competent and knowledgeable attorney is going to give you the adequate representation that you need.

Straightforward Legal Advice

Depending on the exact act, the property damage charge can be a misdemeanor or a felony. The exact charge is going to depend on the property value and the circumstances surrounding the damage. If the damage is inflicted because of discrimination, such as discrimination due to sex, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, or religion, then the charge may be much more serious.

Here are the property damaging charges in Minnesota:

• First-degree property damage occurs when:
  • The damage to property causes a reasonably foreseeable risk of bodily harm to another person in some way,
  • The property belonged to a common carrier,
  • The property’s value is reduced by more than $1,000, or
  • The property’s value is reduced by more than $500 and the offense was not the first offense.
• Second-degree property damage occurs when the property was damaged due to discrimination and the property’s value is reduced by more than $500 but not more than $1,000.
• Third-degree property damage occurs when:
  • The property’s value is reduced by more than $500 but not more than $1,000; or
  • The property was damaged due to discrimination and the property’s value is reduced by $500 or less.
• Fourth-degree property damaging occurs in all other circumstances, such as when the property’s value is reduced by $500 or less.

More times than not, property damaging causes some kind of financial damage to the property owner, so it is possible that the offender will have to pay restitution to the property owner for the damage that was done.

Experienced Property Damage Defense Attorneys

To build a strong case for you, your southern Minnesota criminal defense attorney will evaluate all evidence to determine what occurred and why. If you did commit the act and discrimination is cited as a factor when it really wasn’t, your attorney will prove those facts. Even when guilty, you still have rights that need to be protected and there may be facts in your case that lead to lesser charges, which means lesser penalties. If you didn’t commit the act and/or it was due to a misunderstanding, your attorney will work hard to prove this so you can move on with your life as soon as possible.

Contact A Mankato Criminal Defense Lawyer

Damaging someone else’s property is serious and it can be an expensive situation for you. Whether or not you caused damage to someone else’s property, it is important that you have an attorney representing your rights and interests from the beginning of the case until the end. If you have been accused of property damage, it is important to call Farrish Johnson Law Office, CHTD as soon as possible at 507-625-2525 to schedule a free consultation.