Criminal Mischief offences fall under Section 430 of the Criminal Code of Canada and generally involve any of the following acts:

• destroying or altering property;
• rendering property dangerous, useless, inoperative or ineffective;
• obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property; or
• obstructing, interrupting or interfering with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property

Or, if the property is related to computer data:

• destroying or altering data
• rendering data meaningless, useless or ineffective;
• obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the lawful use of data; or
• obstructing, interrupting or interfering with any person in the lawful use of data or denies access to data to any person who is entitled to access thereto.

Like other property related offences, mischief is classified based on the value of the damaged property, and can either be a charge of mischief under $5000.00 or mischief over $5000.00.

At Jeff Conway Law we have seen mischief charges arise out of a wide range of situations, including domestic disputes, neighbour disputes, behaviour while intoxicated and youth conduct. The charges are often a result of a person's lack of judgement when involved in emotionally charged situations.

If you are facing a charge of mischief it is important that you contact an experienced criminal defence lawyer. The potential legal consequences of a conviction of mischief include: a criminal record, imprisonment, probation and fines. Other consequences in relation to charges and convictions related to mischief are can include: strained family and social relationships, damaged reputation, travel restrictions, job loss and difficulty obtaining jobs requiring a criminal record check, loss of professional accreditation and membership in professional associations (i.e. nursing, teaching, social work, security).

If you have been charged with mischief or any property related offence in London or Southwestern Ontario, call  Jeff Conway for a free consulation.  

.At Jeff Conway Law, we have the experience and resources to fight your charge and  we will provide you with the competent representation and endeavour to achieve the best possible outcome for your matter.