Georgia Event Promoter Arrested for Criminal Damage to Property

The popular Tybee Island beach party, Orange Crush, has been cancelled this year after the event's promoter was arrested on charges of criminal damage to property and giving a false name to police in Georgia.

According to reports, all events associated with the promoter, Mikey Turner, have been cancelled and notices were posted at the beach of the cancellations. The police received calls about noise complaints which led to Turner's arrest. Police reported that they vacated over 200 people from the house party. Turner was also accused of hosting this event and charging admission without the homeowner's knowledge or consent.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I am going to outline the offense of criminal damage to property in today's post. Criminal damage to property is very similar to criminal trespass in Georgia, but a criminal damage to property conviction carries much more significant penalties.

Criminal Damage to Property in Georgia

The offense of criminal damage to property is defined in the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §16-7-23. The statute divides the offense into two separate degrees.

First-degree criminal damage to property in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law as:

A person commits the offense of criminal damage to property in the 1st degree when they:

• Knowingly and without authority interfere with any property in a manner as to endanger human life; or
• Knowingly and without authority and by force or violence interfere with the operation of public communication, public transportation, sewerage, drainage, water supply, gas, power, or other public utility service or with any constituent power thereof.

First-degree criminal damage to property is classified as a felony offense in Georgia. The penalty for a first-degree criminal damage to property conviction will be a prison term between one and ten years.

Second-degree criminal damage to property in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law as:

A person commits the offense of criminal damage to property in the second degree when they:

• Intentionally damage any property of another person without their consent, and the damage, therefore, exceeds $500.00; or
• Recklessly or intentionally, by means of fire or explosive, damages property of another person.

Second-degree criminal damage to property is also classified as a felony offense in Georgia. The penalty for a second-degree criminal damage to property conviction will be a prison term between one and five years.

Practice Note

As you can see from the law above, both degrees of criminal damage to property are classified as a felony offenses in Georgia. Georgia Felony Punishments are not to be taken lightly. If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney today. We can help you now.

Mr. Turner is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He needs representation by the the Best Georgia Criminal Lawyer if he is to have the best defense. However, his case starts right here right now with his arrest. And if he happens to miss a court date in Georgia, then he could be facing even more serious consequences.

Don't risk your future - contact us today.