More Protests Reported in Atlanta

Atlanta Capitol Building

Atlanta, Ga. - Atlanta Police arrested eighteen people last night after protests broke out regarding the Breonna Taylor case.

Breonna Taylor was shot by police officers in Louisville, Kentucky. A grand jury decided to indict one of the officers, and it has sparked outrage across the country. The indictment was for three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. Large numbers of people wanted a murder indictment to result. Demonstrators in large cities have been marching.

Police have been arresting protestors on charges such as damage to property and vandalism. As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will focus on one of the charges in today's post - criminal damage to property in the first degree.

First Degree Criminal Damage to Property in Georgia

Georgia Law defines the offense of first degree criminal damage to property as:

A person commits the offense of criminal damage to property in the first degree when he 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. O.C.G.A. §16-7-22.

A criminal damage to property in the first degree conviction in Georgia is classified as a felony, and the punishment will be a prison term between one and ten years. 

Practice Note

Many people have been arrested as a result of protesting in the City of Atlanta. There has been a lot of social turmoil over this past year. It is important that if you are going to demonstrate that the demonstrations remain lawful and peaceful.

However, if you are arrested as a result of protesting, call our offices immediately. We can help you with your charges now.