Individuals who have been charged with property crimes throughout Georgetown and the surrounding areas can possibly face a conviction for their alleged criminal offense, ranging from a simple misdemeanor to a serious felony. No matter the degree of property offense, a conviction can result in severe penalties, including jail or prison time, a criminal record, steep fines, and/or a negative impact on pursuing certain types of jobs or professions.
It is important to remember that an experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to help you avoid a conviction for your alleged property offense. The state prosecutor has the very difficult burden of proving you committed every element to your alleged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. This means if the judge or jury has any doubt in their mind, the charges against you may be reduced or even dismissed. Therefore, it is essential to immediately contact a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer in Georgetown who will begin crafting the best legal strategy for your unique situation.
Georgetown Property Crime Lawyer
If you have been charged with a property crime in Georgetown, or any of the surrounding areas Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Taylor, Hutto, Killeen, Temple, Belton or Harker Heights, contact the Price & Twine, PLLC Attorney Michael Price is knowledgeable in all areas of Texas’ property laws and will make every effort to help you avoid the most serious penalties and repercussions to your alleged offense. Call the Price & Twine for a free consultation at (512) 354-1880 about your alleged property crime.
Georgetown Property Crime Information Center
- Georgetown Property Offenses
- Penalties to Property Crimes in Georgetown
- Georgetown Defenses to Property Crimes
- Property Crime Resources in Georgetown
Georgetown Property Offenses
Some of the most commonly charged property offenses in Texas are as follows:
Criminal Mischief – Tex. Penal Code § 28.03 – An individual can be charged with this offense if they intentionally or knowingly commit any of the following without the owner’s consent:
- Damage or destroy property of someone else;
- Tampers with another person’s property and causes loss or substantial inconvenience; and/or
- Marks, draws, paints, writes or makes inscriptions or slogans on the property of another person.
This offense is also commonly known as vandalism. A conviction for this offense can result in a Class C, B or A misdemeanor, a state jail felony, or a felony of the third, second or first degree, depending on the amount of loss resulting from the damage.
Burglary – Tex. Penal Code § 30.02 – An individual can be charged with this offense if they enter without the owner’s consent:
- A habitation or a building with the intent to commit a felony, theft or assault;
- A building or habitation and remain there with the intent to commit a felony, theft or assault; or
- A building or habitation and commit or attempt to commit a felony, theft or assault.
This offense is generally punishable as a state jail felony, felony of the second degree or a felony of the first degree.
Burglary of a Motor Vehicle – Tex. Penal Code § 30.04 – An individual can be charged with this offense if they break into or enter a vehicle without the consent of the owner and with the intent to commit a felony or theft. This offense is generally punishable as a state jail felony or a Class A misdemeanor.
Criminal Trespass – Tex. Penal Code § 30.05 – An individual can be charged with this offense if they enter or remain on another person’s property without their consent and the alleged offender had notice the entry was forbidden or they received notice to leave the premises, but did not. Criminal trespass can occur on:
- Residential land,
- Agricultural land,
- A recreational vehicle park,
- A building,
- An aircraft, or
- Any other vehicle.
Arson – Tex. Penal Code § 28.02 – An individual can be charged with this offense if they intentionally or recklessly destroy property through the use of fire or explosion. This offense can result in a conviction for a state jail felony, felony of the first degree, felony of the second degree, or a felony of the first degree, depending if death or injury resulted to any person as a result of the arson, and depending on where the arson occurred.
Graffiti – Tex. Penal Code § 28.08 – An individual can be charged with this offenseif they intentionally or knowingly draw on, inscribe on, paint, write on, spray paint, or mark on property of another person without their permission by using:
- Paint,
- A permanent marker, and/or
- An etching or engraving tool.
This offense can result in a Class A or B misdemeanor, state jail felony, or felony of the third, second, or first-degree conviction, depending on the amount of property damage and where the graffiti was committed.
Penalties to Property Crime in Georgetown
The penalties for property crimes in Texas are listed in Chapter 12 of the Texas Penal Code. However, these basic statutory penalties can increase, depending on where the offense occurred, the value of the damage, whether the alleged offender has any previous criminal history, and whether a weapon was used during the commission of the offense.
- A conviction for a Class C misdemeanor property crime can result in a fine up to $500.
- A conviction for a Class B misdemeanor property crime can result in a jail sentence up to 180 days and/or a fine up to $2,000.
- A conviction for a Class A misdemeanor property crime can result in a jail sentence up to one year and/or a fine up to $4,000.
- A conviction for a state jail felony property crime can result in a jail sentence ranging from 180 days to two years and/or a fine up to $10,000.
- A conviction for a felony of the third-degree property crime can result in a prison sentence ranging from two to ten years and/or a fine up to $10,000.
- A conviction for a felony of the second-degree property crime can result in a prison sentence ranging from two to 20 years and/or a fine up to $10,000.
- A conviction for a felony of the first-degree property crime can result in a prison sentence ranging from five to 99 years or life imprisonment and/or a fine up to $10,000.
Georgetown Defenses to Property Crimes
Defenses may sometimes be available to individuals that have been charged with certain property crimes in Georgetown. It is important to discuss all the facts and details of your particular situation with your criminal defense attorney to determine whether any of the following defenses are applicable to your unique situation.
- Duress – An alleged offender may be able to use this defense if they were threatened by another person they would be harmed or a third party would be harmed if they did not commit the offense.
- Justification – An alleged offender may be able to use this defense if they committed an act that would otherwise by a criminal offense in an emergency situation in order to prevent public or private harm.
- Reasonable Belief – An alleged offender may be able to use this defense if they reasonably believed they had the owner’s permission to use the owner’s property or enter the property.
- Renunciation – An alleged offender may be able to use this defense if they withdrew from participating in the act before the act was committed and made substantial efforts to prevent the act from occurring.
Property Crime Resources in Georgetown
Texas Penal Code – Burglary and Criminal Trespass – Many burglary and criminal trespass offenses are defined in Chapter 30 of Title 7 of the Texas Penal Code. This link is to these offenses against property and the penalties an alleged offender could face if convicted of burglary or criminal trespass.
Texas Penal Code – Offenses Against Property – Many property offenses, such as arson, criminal mischief and property damage and destruction offenses are defined in Chapter 28 of Title 7 of the Texas Penal Code. This link is to offenses against property and the penalties an individual can face if convicted of these property crimes.
Office of Justice Programs – Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) – The Bureau of Justice Statistics provides information in the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which measures property crimes throughout the nations, including burglary and burglary of a vehicle.
Price & Twine, PLLC | Round Rock Property Offense Attorney
Contact Price & Twine, PLLC today for a consultation about your alleged property crime throughout Williamson County in Texas. Michael J. Price is an experienced Georgetown criminal defense lawyer who will make every effort to fight the accusations against you and help you achieve the most desirable outcome for your particular situation.
Contact Price & Twine, PLLC at (512) 354-1880 for a consultation about your alleged property offense throughout Williamson County and Bell County in Texas.