Georgia Teens Charged for Vandalizing High School

The police in charge of Fulton County schools have charged three West Forsyth High School students with crimes.

According to reports, three students caused serious damage to the Roswell High School's band practice field by doing donuts in the field with a truck. The three students were identified quickly. Bad weather led to the cancellation of a football game. The teenagers admitted to taking part in the incident.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline one of the offenses that the kids are being accused of committing as a result of the incident - criminal damage to property in today's post.

Criminal Damage to Property in Georgia

Criminal Damage to Property is broken down by Georgia Law into two different degrees. First Degree Criminal Damage to Property in Georgia is defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-7-22 as:

A person commits the offense of criminal damage to property in the first degree when he:

(1) Knowingly and without authority interferes with any property in a manner so as to endanger human life; or

(2) Knowingly and without authority and by force or violence interferes with the operation of any system of public communication, public transportation, sewerage, drainage, water supply, gas, power, or other public utility service or with any constituent property thereof.

First degree criminal damage to property is classified in Georgia as a felony offense. This means that if a person is convicted of first degree criminal damage to property, then he or she is facing anywhere from one to ten years in prison.

Second Degree Criminal Damage to Property in Georgia is defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-7-23 as:

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

(1) Intentionally damages any property of another person without his consent and the damage thereto exceeds $500.00; or

(2) Recklessly or intentionally, by means of fire or explosive, damages property of another person.

Second degree criminal damage to property is classified in Georgia as a felony offense as well. However, if a person is convicted of second degree criminal damage to property, then he or she is facing anywhere from one to five years in prison.

Practice Note

As you can see from both the law and the story above, the teenagers are facing some very serious allegations. And according to news outlets, all three of the accused teenagers are over the age of seventeen which means they will each be facing adult charges instead of being adjudicated under Georgia Juvenile Laws.

However, as with any other crime in the state of Georgia, a person is only to be deemed guilty if he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Until then - all three of the teenagers have the presumption of innocence.

Contact us today if you or a loved one has been arrested or accused of committing a criminal offense. We can help you now.