Experienced Defense Attorney in Criminal Mischief Charges
A criminal mischief charge can grow out of an argument, a damaged vehicle, a property dispute, or an impulsive decision. What may initially look like a straightforward property damage case can become much more serious once prosecutors assign a dollar value to the alleged damage.
At Odefey, Witte, Wall, & Villafranca, LLP, attorney Jordan G. Fries represents individuals charged with criminal mischief throughout Victoria, Port Lavaca, and surrounding South Texas communities. He focuses on what actually happened, what the property was worth before the incident, and whether the amount prosecutors claim as a loss is supported by the evidence.
Texas criminal mischief cases generally involve allegations that someone intentionally or knowingly damaged another person’s property without permission.
Common allegations include:
One detail can have an outsized effect on these cases: the dollar amount of the damage helps determine the level of the charge. Jordan does not assume that an estimate provided to police accurately reflects the loss. Repair costs, replacement costs, and the condition of the property before the incident can all matter.
Depending on the amount of damage and the circumstances surrounding the offense, a criminal mischief conviction may result in:
Certain circumstances can also increase the seriousness of a criminal mischief charge, making it important to understand exactly how prosecutors arrived at the offense level.
Jordan looks beyond the fact that property was damaged. He considers whether the State can prove who caused the damage, whether it was intentional, and whether the accused had permission or an ownership interest in the property.
Photographs, surveillance footage, text messages, witness accounts, repair estimates, and receipts can each tell part of that story. Jordan also looks closely at timing. When property is discovered damaged after an argument or dispute, suspicion about who was responsible is not necessarily the same as evidence establishing who actually caused it.
Criminal mischief cases can turn on details that receive little attention at the time of an arrest.
Jordan Fries brings practical courtroom judgment and straightforward advice to those details, helping clients understand which facts may actually influence how prosecutors view the case.
