Little Falls NJ Criminal Mischief Charges
“Criminal Mischief can be a felony charge or a misdemeanor charge depending on the amount of the alleged damage done to the victim’s property. In this case, we represented a client in Passaic County (Little Falls) and were able to get the charges dismissed.”
Criminal Mischief Charges NJ
Do you need an attorney for a criminal mischief charge in Little Falls NJ? We can help.
The Passaic County criminal defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm recently succeeded in defending a client against allegations of criminal mischief in the Little Falls Municipal Court. Our client was accused of damaging property on the campus of Montclair State University. In this case, as with many similar criminal mischief or other disorderly conduct cases that take place on college campuses, a momentary lapse in judgment and getting carried away in the moment led to other than favorable behavior. The ultimate result was that there was obvious damage to tangible property and eye-witnesses of the events, resulting in a charge of criminal mischief against our client. Fortunately for our client, we were able to meet with the municipal prosecutor and negotiate an amicable resolution of the case that resulted in a dismissal of the charges. Now, our client has no record of a conviction and can move on with a clean slate.
Criminal Mischief Charges, Law and Penalties – NJSA 2C:17-3
According to N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3, the New Jersey criminal codes sets forth that a person is guilty of criminal mischief if he purposely or knowingly damages tangible property of another or damages tangible property of another recklessly or negligently in the employment of fire, explosives or other dangerous means or purposely, knowingly or recklessly tampers with tangible property of another so as to endanger person or property, including the damaging or destroying of a rental premises by a tenant in retaliation for institution of eviction proceedings. Depending on the extent of damages cause, criminal mischief can be graded from a disorderly persons offense to a third degree crime: criminal mischief is a crime of the third degree if the actor purposely or knowingly causes pecuniary loss of $2,000.00 or more; a crime of the fourth degree if the actor causes pecuniary loss in excess of $500.00 but less than $2000.00; and a disorderly persons offense if the actor causes pecuniary loss of $500.00 or less.
The penalties for the disorderly persons offense of criminal mischief, like any other disorderly persons offense in New Jersey includes up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Additionally, the court can order restitution to the victim to remediate any damage caused by the mischief to “make the victim whole.” Thus, in any case including allegations of criminal mischief, it is important to consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to learn about the potential consequences and how to fight the case.
Arrested for Criminal Mischief in Passaic County? Contact us today
At the Tormey Law Firm, we have decades of legal experience and have appeared in Municipal and Superior courts across New Jersey. If you find yourself facing any type of criminal charges in New Jersey, don’t hesitate to call the Tormey Law Firm – our team of criminal defense attorneys are available 24/7 to fight for your defense at 201-556-1570.
