Man Posing as Student Arrested for Criminal Trespass on Georgia Tech Campus

A man by the name of Paul Frizzell was arrested on Monday for criminal trespass for allegedly being caught on Georgia Tech property after multiple warnings to keep off school grounds. Frizzell has allegedly been telling people on campus that he is a student at MIT in town from Boston, which after further investigation, authorities have determined is a falsehood.

Frizzell was released from the Fulton County Jail on Tuesday, but he is allegedly still attempting to contact Georgia Tech staff members.

As an Atlanta Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will focus today's post on the offense of criminal trespass in Georgia.

Criminal Trespass in Georgia

Criminal Trespass in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in a multitude of ways:

• When he or she intentionally damages any property of another without consent of that other person and the damage thereto is $500.00 or less; or
• When he or she knowingly and maliciously interferes with the possession or use of the property of another person without consent of that person.
• When he or she knowingly and without authority enters on the land or premises or into any part of any vehicle, railroad car, aircraft, or watercraft of another person for an unlawful purpose;
• When he or she knowingly and without authority  enters onto the land or premises of another person or into any part of any vehicle, railroad car, aircraft, or watercraft of another person after receiving notice from the owner that such entry is forbidden; or
• When he or she knowingly and without authority remains on the land or premises of another person or within the vehicle, railroad car, aircraft, or watercraft of another person after the owner has asked the person to leave. O.C.G.A. §16-7-21.

Criminal trespass is classified as a misdemeanor. In Georgia, misdemeanors usually include a sentence of either a fine up to $1,000.00, up to 12 months in jail, or both.

Practice Note

There are different Georgia Criminal Defenses that can invalidate an accusation of criminal trespass. Some of these defenses include: consent, unintentional damage or interference, and no explicit notice of no trespassing/no entrance. 

If you or a loved one has been accused of committing a crime in the Atlanta area, contact our offices today. An Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney can help you with you case by investigating all of the details and determining which defenses may apply. Contact us now.