Vandalism Lawyer in Las Vegas, NV

Vandalism can often begin as a harmless prank or fun with friends. However, Nevada law makes property damage a crime with penalties such as fines, jail time, and community service. If you’re facing vandalism charges in Nevada, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible so they can help protect your rights.

Reach out to Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law, today for a free consultation with a Las Vegas vandalism lawyer.

What Is Considered Vandalism?

Nevada’s legal definition of vandalism is intentionally destroying or damaging someone else’s property. Also called malicious destruction of property, vandalism can include acts such as the following:

• “Egging” someone’s house or car
• Breaking mailboxes
• Taking down or damaging street signs
• Keying someone’s car
• Slashing tires
• Breaking windows

Destruction of property charges in Nevada are outlined under NRS 206.310 in the state’s malicious mischief laws. The law covers damaged property that isn’t under another law. For example, graffiti is addressed separately in NRS 206.330, a serious crime in Nevada courts.

What Vandalism Charges Could I Face?

Several factors can affect charges for damage of property, such as the following:

• The value of the damage — The charges you face will depend on the cost of repairing the damage, replacing what cannot be repaired, cleanup, and any other loss the damage causes.
• Prior vandalism conviction — A criminal record can cause you to face more severe charges. This can even result in a misdemeanor becoming a felony.
• Property damage laws — Some more specific acts of property damage are covered under other laws, such as graffiti and vandalizing historical, religious, burial, educational, transportation, or community sites.

A vandalism defense attorney can review your case and determine what charges you face. From there, they can help you seek the best-case scenario.

When Is Vandalism a Felony?

Whether a crime is charged as a felony vandalism charge or a misdemeanor depends on the value of the property damage and the circumstances of the case. Vandalism is charged as a Category C felony when there’s $5,000 or more in damage. Any damage to public transportation, communication, or police and fire protection can also result in felony vandalism charges. A graffiti charge with these damages is a lesser category E felony. https://www.adrasandaltiglaw.com/felony-lawyer/

The penalties associated with a category C vandalism felony are one to five years in state prison and up to $10,000 in fines. A category E graffiti conviction can come with one to four years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. This crime also requires at least 10 days in the county jail if probation is granted.

When Is Vandalism a Misdemeanor?

Vandalism and graffiti charges can be broken down into gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors. A misdemeanor charge for vandalism involves $25 to $250 worth of property damage. For damage worth $250 to $5,000, it’s elevated to a gross misdemeanor. Vandalism that causes less than $25 worth of damage will likely only result in a civil fine of up to $500.

Misdemeanor vandalism charges can come with a jail sentence of up to six months and a $1,000 fine. A gross misdemeanor conviction can have a penalty of up to 364 days in jail, a $2,000 fine, and community service in some cases.

Can You Be Convicted of Vandalism Without Proof?

The prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before you can be convicted in a Nevada criminal case. For vandalism charges, they’ll need to prove the following:

• You were the one who destroyed or defaced someone else’s property.
• The property belonged to someone else.
• You didn’t have the property owner’s consent.
• You damaged the person’s property on purpose.

Raising doubt about whether these factors are true is a method that a lawyer can use for your defense. For example, a skilled vandalism attorney can review your case and look for ways to fight the prosecutor’s points.

How Do You Fight Vandalism Charges?

There are a few arguments a vandalism lawyer could use to defend these charges, including the following:

• The crime was not deliberate — Nevada vandalism laws require that the act be intentional or malicious. Proving it was an accident may be enough to drop the vandalism charges.
• The property owner consented — There can’t be a crime if you reasonably believe the owner permitted to damage their personal property. For example, a lawyer may be able to prove the property owner asked for a mural on their building.
• The property belongs to the defendant — There could be a question of whether the property belonged to you or not. If there’s evidence proving it’s your property, you may be found not guilty, as you can legally destroy it.
• They’ve arrested the wrong person — Vandals strike at night in clothing that hides their identity, which can result in a false vandalism charge. As with most other criminal charges, a criminal defense attorney may be able to show the charge is a result of a false arrest or misidentification.
• There isn’t enough evidence — The requirement of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt means that there has to be quite a bit of evidence to warrant a conviction. Lack of evidence can result in vandalism charges being dismissed.

For more questions about how you can fight your vandalism charges in Nevada, contact the criminal defense lawyers at Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law.

Get in Touch With an Experienced Vandalism Lawyer in Las Vegas, NV Today

If you’ve been charged with vandalism in Nevada, you should contact a vandalism lawyer as soon as possible. Once you do, they can work on preparing your defense and pursuing the best outcome for your case. The legal team at Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law, has a proven track record of providing criminal defense in Nevada. We are prepared to explain your legal options and provide high-quality representation while fighting for your rights.

Call or contact us online today to talk to one of our knowledgeable vandalism attorneys about how we can help.