Portland Criminal Mischief Lawyers

At Castleberry & Elison, P.C., our Portland criminal mischief lawyers are prepared to defend those facing a variety of criminal charges. In Oregon, criminal mischief charges may be issued to individuals accused of damaging or “interfering with” the property of others in a way that is intended to cause them considerable inconvenience. People that have been charged with criminal mischief may be confused about their rights and the specifics of the charges they are facing, as people can receive a misdemeanor or felony level criminal mischief charge.

If you or someone you love is facing criminal mischief accusations, you should contact an experienced legal professional as soon as possible. The consequences of a criminal mischief conviction can greatly affect every aspect of your personal, professional, and financial life, so it is important that you do everything in your power to fight these charges. For the experienced legal assistance you need and deserve, contact the Portland criminal mischief attorneys of Castleberry & Elison, P.C., by calling 503-223-0011 today.

Understanding Criminal Mischief

The state of Oregon divides criminal mischief charges into three categories:

• First Degree
• Second Degree
• Third Degree

First degree charges are the only ones that are felony level charges. Those facing first degree criminal mischief charges are suspected of having had the intent to damage the property of another in a serious manner. This includes causing explosions, setting fires, hurting livestock, and any other activities that result in more than $750 in damages. Penalties for a conviction may include $125,000 in fines and up to 5 years in prison.

Second degree charges are categorized as a Class A misdemeanor and can leave people facing 365 days in jail in addition to a possible $6250 in fines. Charges are given to those that are found attempting to interfere with another’s property in a way that may be inconvenient to the owner and cause damages exceeding $100.

Third degree charges are a Class C misdemeanor and the least severe of all criminal mischief charges. Those accused of tampering with the property of another in a manner that is deemed an inconvenience may face this type of charge. Penalties include a possible 30 days in jail and up to $1250 in fines.

Any criminal mischief charge has the potential to affect your life for years to come, and you should not leave your defense to chance. Contact an experienced criminal mischief lawyer today if you are facing these charges to ensure that your legal rights and options are protected.

Contact Us

The sooner you find an attorney you can trust to tackle your case, the sooner you can rest easy knowing that your case is in good hands. To learn more about what the Portland criminal mischief lawyers of Castleberry & Elison, P.C., can do to help you, contact us at 503-223-0011 today.