Louisiana Arson Defense Lawyer

Arson and Criminal Mischief Attorney in Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, & Ruston, LA

In the state of Louisiana, property-related offenses can be treated as a misdemeanors or felonies depending on the severity of the crimes and the value of the property involved. Regardless of being charged with a misdemeanor or felony, one should speak to a criminal defense lawyer who defends arson and criminal mischief in Louisiana immediately. You might face significant jail time, restitution costs, fines, probation, or even prison upon a conviction.

What is Considered Criminal Mischief in Louisiana?

Criminal statutes in Louisiana cover many crimes that may qualify as criminal mischief. Below are some examples:

• Unauthorized tampering of property that interferes with the enjoyment of the property or purposely deprives another who is entitled to use the property
• Making false claims of fires or other similar situations that would cause emergency services to respond
• Putting nails, tacks, spikes, or other metal over one and a half inches in length into any tree on property belonging to someone else without consent, or failing to remove it
• Making a false report or complaint to a sheriff, deputies, or other law enforcement officials about an attempted crime
• Refusing to leave business premises if someone in charge has asked you to leave
• Discharging firearms at a train, locomotive, or railway car

A charge of criminal mischief will go on your record and can damage your reputation. If you face criminal mischief charges, speak to a knowledgeable Louisiana criminal mischief defense lawyer.

What is Arson in Louisiana 

Arson is the deliberate burning of a house, building or other property. The judge will consider a person’s intent, the extent of the damage, and whether or not another was hurt when issuing a sentence for an arson crime. Arson is always considered a serious felony offense in the state of Louisiana. A person may face several arson charges depending on the nature of the crime.

Aggravated arson is purposely causing damage by using an explosive substance or setting any structure, boat, or moving object on fire where human life might be endangered. Penalties for aggravated arson are defined in §51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Injury by arson involves the same circumstances as aggravated arson and includes bodily harm to any person, including emergency service workers. Penalties may be found in §51.1 of the Revised Statutes.

Simple arson, as defined in §52 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, may involve the intentional damaging by any explosive substance or the setting fire to any property of another without the owner’s consent or the starting of a fire or causing an explosion while the offender is engaged in another felony offense.

Simple arson of a religious building involves damaging a religious building with any explosive substance or by setting it on fire.

Arson with intent to defraud involves setting fire or damaging by explosive substance any property with intent to defraud the insurance company covering it. This is a severe offense for which a person may be imprisoned for up to five years as described in §53 of the Revised Statutes.

If you are facing accusations of arson, get an experienced Louisiana arson attorney immediately to help build a defense for your criminal trial.

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Arson and Criminal Mischief Lawyers You Can Trust

Eric Johnson of The John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm has decades of experience fighting arson and criminal mischief charges. Eric thoroughly investigates each client’s unique case and seeks to have criminal charges dismissed or dropped whenever possible. With over two decades of practice, The John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm can evaluate your case and advise you on the best next steps. Call (318) 377-1555 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.