Source: http://sessalaw.com/crimes/property-crimes/criminal-mischief-vandalism/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 12:22:39+00:00

Document:
Under Section 806.13, Florida Statutes, criminal mischief is defined as the willful and and malicious causing of injury or damage, by any means, to any real or personal property belonging to another person. Under the statute and applicable case law, injury or damage to property can include acts of graffiti, vandalism, sabotage, defacement, breakage, and other destructive acts.
Criminal mischief is considered a “general intent” crime in that it merely requires an act that is willful (intentional) and wrongful (with evil intent and the knowledge that injury or damage will or may be caused). The offense is not a “specific intent” crime because there is no requirement in the statute that the act in question be done with the intent to injure or damage property. M.H. v. State, 936 So. 2d 1 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006).
In other words, to commit the crime of criminal mischief, a defendant does not have to specifically set out to cause damage to property. If the property is damaged as a result of an intentional and wrongful act carried out with the knowledge that damage may be caused to persons or property, this is sufficient to sustain a conviction. Id.
Although specific intent is not required in a prosecution for criminal mischief, the willful and malicious acts of the defendant must nonetheless be directed to the subject property, as opposed to the person of the victim.
Source: H.F. v. State, 927 So. 2d 163 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006 (acting with malice towards the person of a victim and incidentally damaging a phone was insufficient to sustain a conviction for criminal mischief); Sanchez v. State, 909 So. 2d 981 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005) (acting with malice toward the person of the owner of the property is not enough to support a conviction for criminal mischief); M.H. v. State, 936 So. 2d 1 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006) (willfully driving a stolen scooter through a fence with knowledge that the scooter may be damaged was sufficient evidence to support a conviction of criminal mischief because the malicious and willful acts were directed to property).
Although property value is not an element of criminal mischief, it does determine whether the offense will be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. Thus, a trial court errs in finding felony criminal mischief where the value determination derives from hearsay repair estimates, or from non-expert verbal testimony by the victim (without admissible repair estimates). S.P. v. State, 884 So. 2d 136 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); A.D. v. State, 866 So. 2d 752 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004).
If you have been arrested for criminal mischief, malicious mischief, or vandalism in Palm Beach County, Florida, you should consult with an experienced criminal attorney immediately to discuss your legal options. There may be defenses available to contest the charge or to minimize the penalties you may face. Contact Steven Sessa today for a free consultation.

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