Is Malicious Injury to Property Oklahoma a Serious Matter?

Also referred to as destruction of property, a charge of violating malicious injury to property Oklahoma law is very serious.

However, the severity of the punishment primarily depends on:

1) the value of the property destroyed and

2) whether the defendant has committed this crime in the past.

If you or someone you know has been charged with violating malicious injury to property Oklahoma laws, contact an experienced Muskogee criminal defense attorney today.

Penalties for Malicious Injury to Property Oklahoma

Anyone who maliciously injures, defaces or destroys any real or personal property that does not belong to them will be face the following punishments:

1. A misdemeanor offense, if the damage, defacement or destruction causes a loss which has an aggregate value of less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00);

2. A felony offense, if the damage, defacement or destruction causes a loss which has an aggregate value of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

3. A felony crime, if the defendant has two or more prior convictions for an offense under this section, notwithstanding the value of loss caused by the damage, defacement or destruction.

(Ok. Stat. tit. 21 Sec. 1760).

Additional Considerations

The victim of the property damage may also file a civil lawsuit against the defendant to recover the value of the property.

For example, if John breaks his neighbor’s car window valued at $375, he will be guilty of a misdemeanor violation of malicious injury to property Oklahoma laws.

He may then serve up to one year in county jail, and his neighbor can also sue him for $375.