Property Crimes Attorney

Property crimes include crimes that involve the destruction of property or the misuse of property that doesn’t belong to the accused. The umbrella of property crimes covers tampering, property damage, institutional vandalism, arson, knowingly burning or exploding, trespassing, and other crimes. That’s a wide range of crimes, and they have a wide range of penalties.

Tampering

Tampering can be considered a misdemeanor or a felony. Tampering in the second-degree is considered a class A misdemeanor while tampering in the first-degree is considered a class D felony.

Second-Degree Tampering

Unlawfully riding in or on a motor-propelled vehicle.

Tampering with, diverting, preventing the proper measurement of, or connecting to a utility service without permission.

Tampering with another’s property to cause substantial inconvenience.

First-Degree Tampering Causing a substantial interruption or impairment of a service rendered to the public by a utility, institution providing healthcare, or institution providing safety protection. Knowingly receiving, selling, possessing, or unlawfully operating a motor-propelled vehicle without permission from the owner.

Property Damage

The crime of property damage, commonly known as vandalism, can be a class B misdemeanor, a class E felony, a class D felony, or a class B felony. Specifically, property damage in the second-degree is a class B misdemeanor, whereas property damage in the first-degree can be a class E felony, a class D felony or a class B felony.

Second-Degree Property Damage

Knowingly damaging another’s property or damaging property to defraud an insurer.

First-Degree Property Damage – Class E Felony

Knowingly damaging another’s property to an extent at or exceeding $750.00 or damaging property valued at or over $750.00 to defraud an insurer.

First-Degree Property Damage – Class D Felony

Initial act of knowingly damaging a motor vehicle while engaging in theft.

First-Degree Property Damage – Class B Felony

Second and subsequent acts of knowingly damaging a motor vehicle while engaging in theft.

Institutional Vandalism

Institutional vandalism, also known as institutional property damage, is the act of knowingly damaging certain types of institutional property, the grounds adjacent to certain types of institutional property, or personal property contained within certain types of institutional property. If the amount of damage caused is under $750.00 the offense is a class A misdemeanor. If the amount of damage is over $5,000.00 the offense is a class D felony. If the amount of damages falls between the two numbers, then the offense is a class E felony.

Property Covered by Institutional Vandalism

• Place used for religious worship or other religious purposes.
• Facilitates used for burial or memorializing the dead.
• Any educational facility, medical facility, or community center owned and operated by a religious or sectarian group.
• Any motor vehicle which is owned, operated, leased, or under contract by an educational institution for the transportation of school children.

Arson

Arson is the act of knowingly causing a fire or explosion that damages or destroys a building. Arson in the third-degree is a Class A misdemeanor, arson in the second-degree can be a class D felony or a class B felony, arson in the first-degree is a class B felony or a class A felony.

Third-Degree Arson

Knowingly causing a fire or explosion that recklessly damages or destroys a building.

Second-Degree Arson

Knowingly causing a fire or explosion with the purpose of damaging a building, unless the person has a legal right to damage the building. Second-degree arson is a class D felony unless an individual suffers physical injury because of the fire or explosion.

First-Degree Arson – Class B Felony

Knowingly causing a fire or explosion with the purpose of damaging a building while a person is present or in close proximity such that they are recklessly endangered.

First-Degree Arson – Class A Felony

Causing a fire or explosion that damages a building while attempting to produce methamphetamine or knowingly causing a fire or explosion with the purpose of damaging a building while a person is present or in close proximity such that they die or receive serious injuries.

Knowingly Burning or Exploding

Knowingly burning or exploding is a class E felony where someone knowingly damages another’s property, not necessarily a building, by causing a fire or explosion.

Trespassing

Trespassing is the act of illegally entering, or in the case of first-degree trespassing illegally remaining within, a property without permission. Second-degree trespassing is an infraction, while trespassing in the first-degree is a class B misdemeanor.

Second-Degree Trespassing

Unlawfully entering a property.

First-Degree Trespassing

Knowingly and unlawfully entering or remaining within a building that is enclosed or posted against trespassing. Posting can include signage or vertical, purple, lines painted around the area.

Call Day or Night for a Property Crimes Attorney

The Chris Benjamin Law Firm offers free consultations to individuals accused of property crimes. Call 816-425-2420 / 913-340-9544 or navigate to our contact page to find out how The Chris Benjamin Law Firm can help you with your property crimes charge in Missouri or Kansas. Rather than risking your future, contact the Chris Benjamin Law Firm to fight in your corner.

Some materials sourced from Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 569.