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Tennessee Vandalism Charges

By Baker Associates

Damage to personal property is often thought of as a cause of action in civil litigation. If someone destroys property, they should have to pay for it. But what about the criminal side of it? Can criminal sanctions be brought against someone who destroys property? Under certain conditions: yes. TCA § 39-14-408 lays out the standards for criminal vandalism. Under TCA § 39-14-408, a person may be charged with criminal vandalism if they knowingly or intentionally damage the personal or real property of another. ?Another? can mean a private individual, the state, the United States, or a city or town. The person against whom the vandalism occurs in not important; the important factor in vandalism cases is that this destruction takes place when the accused knows that they do not have the owner?s effective consent to damage or destroy the property...continue to full post

Full post as published by Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog on May 15, 2009 (boomark / email).