

Police arrested him the following month and charged him with multiple counts of criminal mischief ($0 – $500), disturbing the peace, and discharging a firearm/weapon from the highway. They also located a BB gun in his vehicle. Police questioned Ziemba on February 26 and learned he possessed a plastic bag containing a large quantity of BBs. Multiple victims also claimed they saw his car right before the incident. Video surveillance revealed Ziemba’s vehicle in the area when the crimes took place.

Upon investigation, they determined that the windows had broken as a result of a BB or pellet gun. In this example of criminal mischief, law enforcement had received several calls regarding windows broken out of moving and parked vehicles. The judge found him guilty on 28 counts of criminal mischief-related charges. In October 2018, the court sentenced Donald Ziemba Jr. Criminal Mischief Example Involving Columbus Man The defendant pays fines directly to the court and restitution to the victim to compensate for damages. Though restitution and fines both involve financial costs imposed on a defendant, there is a difference between the two. Typically, the penalties range from fines and/or probation to incarceration.įirst Degree Class C Felony 10 years $10,000 Second Degree Class D Felony 5 years $7,500 Third Degree Aggravated Misdemeanor 2 years $6,250 Fourth Degree Serious Misdemeanor 1 year $1,875 Fifth Degree Simple Misdemeanor 30 days $625Īlong with the penalties for criminal mischief listed above, the courts often order restitution. It is also contingent on the level or degree of the offense which the state’s statutes determine.

The penalties for criminal mischief depend on whether it classifies as a misdemeanor or felony offense. The following table is an example of criminal mischief classifications according to state law:Ĭategory First Degree $10,000 Class C Felony Second Degree $1,000 – $10,000 Class D Felony Third Degree $500 – $1,000 Aggravated Misdemeanor Fourth Degree $200 – $500 Serious Misdemeanor Fifth Degree $0 – $200 Simple Misdemeanor Penalties for Criminal Mischief The degrees of criminal mischief each carry specific penalties as outlined in state criminal codes. Most states further divide the two classifications into subcategories, with first-degree being the most serious. The laws governing the offense differ by state, however, all classify the crime as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the value of damage.
