Graffiti & Juvenile Crimes in Houston

Houston Juvenile Defense Attorney

If your child has been accused of graffiti or any form of vandalism, it is important to take the necessary steps to protect their rights and future. A Houston juvenile defense attorney can get involved early in the process and can work to help your son or daughter avoid a conviction and penalties or other consequences of a graffiti conviction by protecting his or her rights every step of the way. To learn more about how a lawyer can help you, feel free to contact Madrid, Martinez & Associates toll-free at 800-724-1876.

Graffiti and Vandalism Charges

Under Texas Penal Code Section 28.08, graffiti is considered a misdemeanor or felony offense. Penalties are generally based upon the extent of damage to the property, ranging from 180 days in jail and fines of up to $2,000 to imprisonment in state prison and fines of up to $10,000. A parent of a juvenile offender convicted of graffiti may be held financially accountable for paying fines. A juvenile defendant may also face mandatory graffiti cleanup and other forms of community service.

In some situations, graffiti will be charged as a felony offense. This typically applies if the graffiti or vandalism is committed as a hate crime against a person or group of people due to their race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. All other types of graffiti or minor vandalism, however, is most often charged as a misdemeanor juvenile crime for a minor. It may even be a crime for a minor to be in possession of aerosol paint or other materials that may be used to make graffiti, if the minor is on public property or on another's private property.

Contact a Houston graffiti defense lawyer at our law firm for the defense your son or daughter needs in the face of juvenile graffiti or vandalism charges.