Atlanta Woman Arrested for Defacing Confederate Statue

Capitol Building

Atlanta, Ga. - According to reports out of Atlanta, authorities arrested a woman this past week for allegedly defacing a confederate statue in front of the Capitol building.

The statue has been a controversial subject for years - it's a bronze statue of John Brown Gordon. Gordon was a former senator, governor, Confederate war commander, and one of the leaders of the Ku Klux Klan.

The woman who was arrested is facing charges of interference with government property and criminal trespass in Georgia. She was accused of writing “TEAR DOWN” on the statue in yellow chalk. A group has been rallying to remove the statue and have been holding daily demonstrations demanding the removal of the statue.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will use today's post as an opportunity to explain the law behind the felony offense of interference with government property.

Interference with Government Property in Georgia

Interference with Government Property in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-7-24. There are two levels of the law - one is classified as a misdemeanor and the other is classified as a felony. The first part of the law reads:

(a) A person commits the offense of interference with government property when he destroys, damages, or defaces government property.

A conviction under O.C.G.A §16-7-24(a) will carry a punishment of a prison term between one and five years. It will be treated as a felony conviction. 

(b) A person commits the offense of interference with government property when he forcibly interferes with or obstructs the passage into or from government property.

A conviction under O.C.G.A. §16-7-24(b) will be punished as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors carry fines up to $1,000 or jail time up to one year.

Practice Note

If arrested, contact our offices today to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. We can formulate the best possible defense for your case. Call now.