Des Moines Criminal Mischief Attorneys

Aggressively Fighting Criminal Mischief Charges

In Iowa, criminal mischief is a felony or misdemeanor offense carrying heavy penalties. If you have been accused, a conviction could turn your life upside down, as you face not only incarceration and/or fines but also a criminal record that could place various limitations on you. Just because you are facing charges does not mean you are guilty of the alleged conduct. To attack the allegations made against you, it is imperative to have a skillful and aggressive attorney on your side.

At Branstad & Olson, our Des Moines criminal mischief lawyers know the life-altering consequences of a conviction, which is why we do everything in our legal power to fight these serious charges. Backed by over 65 years of combined experience, we know how to build innovative defense strategies to seek the best possible results for our clients. When you reach out to our Des Moines criminal mischief attorneys, we will conduct a thorough assessment of your case, explain the charges and potential penalties, and discuss the legal avenues we can explore. Our team extensively prepares for criminal cases and will be ready to pursue an optimal result through negotiations or take your case to trial if necessary.

Learn how our criminal mischief attorneys in Des Moines can provide the legal representation you need by calling us at (515) 329-3100 or contacting us online.

Criminal Mischief Charges – Iowa Code § 716.1

Generally, criminal mischief involves the intentional and unlawful damaging, defacing, altering, or destruction of property.

Iowa law enumerates four degrees of the offense:

• Criminal mischief 1st degree (Iowa Code § 716.3):
  • Resulted in over $10,000 worth of damage, or
  • Caused or could have caused disruption to public utility services
• Criminal mischief 2nd degree (Iowa Code § 716.4):
  • Resulted in over $1,500 but not more than $10,000 worth of damage
• Criminal mischief 3rd degree (Iowa Code § 716.5):
  • Caused over $750 but not more than $1,500 worth of damage;
  • Affected property was a legal document;
  • Affected a light, barrier, or other object altering people to a hazardous condition; or
  • Involved unearthing human remains from a burial site;
  • Property was an ATM machine
• Criminal mischief 4th degree (Iowa Code § 716.6):
  • Caused over $300 but not more than $750 worth of damage, or
  • Affected a monument
• Criminal mischief 5th degree (Iowa Code § 716.6):
  • Any offense not classified as first-, second-, third-, or fourth-degree criminal mischief

If you are facing accusations of any degree of criminal mischief, reach out to Branstad & Olson right away. Our Des Moines criminal mischief lawyers thoroughly investigate criminal matters to identify ways to cast doubt on the prosecutor's case.