Criminal Mischief
Penal Law § 145.00 — damaging someone else's property is a class A misdemeanor, and over $250 with intent a class E felony
With no right to do it and no reasonable ground to believe there is one, a person commits criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor, by:
- Intentionally damaging another person's property.
- Recklessly damaging another person's property by more than $250.
- Intentionally taking part in destroying an abandoned building.
- Intentionally disabling or removing a phone or similar equipment to keep someone from calling police, fire or emergency medical services, or anyone else for help against imminent physical injury. Owning part of the equipment is no defense.
Over $250, with intent: a felony. Intending to damage another person's property and damaging it by more than $250 is criminal mischief in the third degree, a class E felony.
Sources for this section (2)
- Penal Law § 145.00 — Criminal mischief in the fourth degree
- Penal Law § 145.05 — Criminal mischief in the third degree
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.