St Louis Property Damage Attorney

Have You Been Arrested or Charged for Property Damage Crimes?

With Over 20+ Years of Experience Practicing Criminal Defense, W. Scott Rose Will Work Tirelessly & Aggressively to Defend You in the Court of Law.

Property damage cases, including vandalism, arson, and minor, moderate, and severe damage of property have serious consequences. Rose Legal Services’ experienced St. Louis property damage attorney provides effective defense strategies to preserve your future.

When an individual intentionally or knowingly causes damages to another person’s property, it can quickly escalate into a misdemeanor or felony charge for the accused. Property damage crimes involve property being destroyed, including homes, buildings, motor vehicles, private, and public property. In St. Louis, criminal charges for property damage have serious consequences.

If you are accused of property damage you can be facing hefty fines, jail time, and a life-long criminal record. These are penalties that can severely affect you, your family, and most importantly, your freedom. You need a skilled St. Louis property damage attorney that will offer the undivided attention that your case needs. Rose Legal Services exclusively handles criminal defense matters including assault, theft, and weapon charges. Stay calm, and allow our attorneys to build the best possible case for you — Get started now with a free consultation.

Types of Property Damage Charges

The state of Missouri will usually identify the crime as either vandalism, arson, tampering, or property damage. Courts will address the severity of each crime by applying one of two degrees — A first degree (felony) or a second degree (misdemeanor). Although penalties can vary greatly, they are typically based on the amount of tampering or damage to property incurred.

  • First Degree – An individual knowingly causes damage to another person’s property or vehicle. Damages are over $750, or damages were caused in an attempt to defraud an insurer. This also applies to intentional tampering with property.
  • Second Degree – The monetary amount applied to the damages can be the deciding factor between first and second-degree charges. Even if the accused knowingly caused the damage, if there is no dollar amount, the charge will likely become a misdemeanor. In the case of tampering, it would have to be determined that it was unintentional.

DETERMINING PENALTIES FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE CRIMES IN ST. LOUIS

The penalties for property damage charges in Missouri are based on a number of factors, including:

  • Type of property (e.g., home, car, personal item)
  • The severity of damage (e.g., broken window, arson)
  • The monetary value of the damage
  • Negligent or intentional property damage
  • Whether the property damage occurred during the commission of another crime, such as burglary
  • Whether the property damage was motivated by racial or ethnic animus, also known as a “hate crime”

What To Do After Being Charged With Property Damage In St. Louis

If you’ve been charged with a property damage crime, your next phone call should be to an experienced St. Louis Property Damage Attorney. They will immediately get to work on building an effective representation for you while providing you with sound advice to help you move forward in the best way possible. Whether you decide to plead innocent or guilty, it’s important to find out ALL of your options… before your trial.

A knowledgeable criminal defense attorney will focus on defending your rights, and protecting your future — Get started with a free consultation.

Intentional Property Damage Crimes

An important factor in determining the charges for any crime… is the level of intent. Did the accused do this on purpose? Were they aware of the repercussions of their actions? — Your answers will have a serious impact on your case. If accused of intentional property damage, you can be facing expensive fines, jail time, and a criminal record that lasts a lifetime. Here are some of the most common intentional property damage crimes:

  • Vandalism – When an individual destroys or damages someone‘s property without consent. This includes buildings, vehicles, websites, public spaces, or facilities, and more.
  • Arson – Arson is when an offender intentionally burns a property such as a building, residence, or motor vehicle. Because arson has the potential to cause injuries or death, it is immediately classified as a felony.
  • Tampering – This can occur when driving another person’s vehicle without permission, tampering with safety equipment, causing a public service interruption, and more. “Damage” does not necessarily have to incur.

Finding The Best St. Louis Property Damage Attorney For You

Look for an experienced attorney with a proven track record of getting charges dropped in a range of criminal defense cases including assault, theft, and domestic violence. Work with a law firm that can start your case off with a free consultation, and take the time to thoroughly review and inspect your case to create a STRONG defense. Rose Legal Services will take your case as seriously as YOU DO.

  • Immediate & Effective Representation
  • Flat Fee Criminal Law Firm
  • Get The UNDIVIDED ATTENTION Your Case Needs
  • Take Legal Action TODAY
  • All Cases Begin With A FREE Consultation

Hire a St. Louis property damage attorney as soon as possible to help protect your freedom and your relationship with your family. Whether this is a first-time offense or you’ve been charged before, we can help you get the best possible results in your property damage crime case — Begin defending your future today with a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. Depending on the severity, the accused can be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor. Jail time is possible in both cases. This is why it is important to contact a property damage attorney as soon as possible. They can begin building your defense, and work to get you the best results possible.

If you’ve been charged with property damage, an experienced property damage attorney will immediately begin building your defense. They will evaluate your case in detail and give you all of your options, with knowledgeable recommendations. Whether this means pleading guilty or taking a plea deal, you can work with an attorney to create the best outcome.

Both misdemeanors and felonies will remain on your record indefinitely in Missouri. After a waiting period, you can apply to have your charges expunged (hidden on your record). For misdemeanors, the waiting period is three (3) years, and for felonies, the waiting period is seven (7) years. Although not all charges will be eligible for this, Missouri has an extensive list of charges that cannot be expunged.

The State accused me of 3 felonies that someone else committed. I hired Scott, and he got the charges dismissed!

Scott, have helped me throughout this whole process mentally. You are really amazing – I thank you so much for helping me!

Mr. Rose really helped me out with a difficult situation. He was great to work with and worked hard to get me a good outcome. I would definitely recommend him to others.