Vandalism Charges in Minnesota Carry Stiff Fines and Penalties

Vandalism is often seen as a juvenile crime, but in Minnesota it carries stiff fines and penalties. A St. Paul criminal defense attorney often sees young people who face stiff fines and up to five years in prison when convicted of vandalism charges.

Vandalism can be something as minor as carving your initials into a tree, or as major as causing thousands of dollars in property damage. Because each incidence of vandalism is different, Minnesota prosecutes vandalism crimes in three different degrees.

First Degree Criminal Damage to Property

First-degree criminal damage to property is the most severe type of vandalism in Minnesota. When a person willfully and intentionally causes damage to another person’s property, they can be charged with first-degree vandalism. Charges can result if any or all of the following conditions are present:

  • The damage involves a reasonable risk of bodily harm
  • The property belongs to a common carrier, like a utility company, and the damage causes disruption in access to the public’s services
  • The damage reduces the property’s value by more than $1,000
  • The damage reduces the property’s value by more than $500 and the offender has a prior conviction for criminal damage to property

First degree criminal damage to property is a felony-level offense which requires legal representation by a St. Paul criminal defense attorney. It carries potential sentences of up to $10,000 in fines and up to five years in prison, as well as possible monetary penalties to pay back the property owner for property damages.

Second Degree Criminal Damage to Property

A second degree criminal damage to property charge may constitute a hate crime when it involves intentionally causing damage to another person’s property because of their race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and mental or physical disability or impairment. Although second degree criminal damage to property is a lesser vandalism offense, it still carries fines up to $3,000 and up to one year in prison.

Third Degree Criminal Damage to Property

Third degree criminal damage to property is the most common type of vandalism seen by a St. Paul criminal defense attorney in Minnesota. For third degree offenses, a person can receive fines up to $3,000 and up to one year in prison, or both, if the property value is reduced by more than $500, but not more than $1,000, as measured by the cost of repair and replacement.

He has won jury trial cases in misdemeanor and felony cases and in DWI’s and non-DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. He is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

People facing criminal charges in Minnesota often ask, “Can you defend yourself in court?” You can represent yourself in court when charged with a crime. Self-representation, however, is not typically in the accused's best interests, even if courts allow it.
Parents whose children have been arrested or accused of committing a heinous crime might wonder, “Can a minor be charged with a felony?” A minor aged 14 years or older but below 18 years may face felony charges in Minnesota.
People accused of or under investigation for assault might ask, “What are the charges for assault?” Minnesota has five levels of assault charges. First-degree assault is the most serious offense, and a conviction often results in the most severe penalties, like long prison time and hefty fines.