Our Mission Viejo vandalism criminal defense attorneys were interested to see an article about vandalism in a Trabuco Canyon park. The Orange County Register reported June 16 that Ronald G. Wells Park in Wagon Wheel Canyon sustained more than $16,000 worth of damage from vandalism last week. Police are looking for information on the crime, which will delay the opening of the park with brand-new equipment. A neighbor who saw the vandals and asked them to leave described them as three girls and two boys between the ages of 13 and 16. The vice president of the Wagon Wheel Community Association, Michael Browne, said the association would seek felony vandalism prosecution if the perpetrators do not confess.
According to the article, the vandals left shoeprints in rubber that was still drying, carved words into the rubber playground surface and dug up some of the shredded rubber underneath. They also broke trash cans and bent picnic tables and threw trash around the park and surrounding oak trees. Browne said the damage is estimated at more than $16,000, but the association plans to spend only $7,500 because it will simply add another top layer of rubber. It is also spending $1,000 a day on a security guard and adding temporary fencing. The neighbor who saw the vandals couldn't establish where they lived, but the association has already received names of possible suspects and referred them to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. A $500 reward is offered for more information. Browne said the association is willing to pursue charges even though it's expensive, because the vandalism upset a lot of residents.
As Orange vandalism criminal defense lawyers, we suspect that this was the work of teenagers who didn't think about the legal and financial consequences of getting caught. That's a shame, because felony vandalism prosecution can be serious. Vandalism creating more than $10,000 worth of damage is a "wobbler," which means it can be prosecuted as a felony or a misdemeanor, depending only on the judgment of the prosecutor. It carries up to a year in jail or prison and a fine of up to $50,000. If the perpetrators are minors, they may be sent to juvenile hall instead, and their parents may be held legally responsible for the fine. Courts may also sentence people convicted of vandalism to community service -- generally, cleaning up other people's vandalism. At best, this means a year or more of menial work, public embarrassment and no time for extracurriculars. At worst, it could mean juvenile detention that could expose these teens to the wrong peer group members and influences.
If you're facing a vandalism charge as a minor or an adult, you should call HOWARD | NASSIRI PC right away. Some vandalism laws were written with adult gang members in mind, which means they can be very harsh. Fortunately, our Corona vandalism criminal defense attorneys can often negotiate with prosecutors for more reasonable charges, or fight in court for penalties most appropriate to the situation. For example, minors caught in their first acts of vandalism are good candidates for community service sentences, sometimes along with fines. When a family simply cannot afford to pay a fine or repair the damage, we can argue for lenience from the court. And we fight hard to keep one mistake from sending a good kid to juvenile detention.
HOWARD | NASSIRI offers free, confidential consultations, so there's no risk in speaking to us about your rights and your case. To set up a free consultation, please contact us online or call 1-800-872-5925.
