New York Penal Law 145.25: Reckless Endangerment of Property

Reckless Endangerment of Property: Understanding the Charges and Consequences

Crashing a vehicle that doesn’t belong to you, setting a house on fire, or destroying any type of property are all examples of the reckless endangerment of property. A lawyer fighting the charges will try to prove that the person didn’t do the damage intentionally, and that they were unaware of the consequences that would occur because of their actions. If it doesn’t look like the accused can be cleared of the charges for reckless endangerment, the lawyer will try to negotiate a deal, or work to get the sentence reduced, and to have the consequences minimized.

The Classification and Punishments

The conviction of reckless property endangerment is classified as a class B misdemeanor. With this charge, someone could face jail time, be sentenced to probation, will have to pay fees and restitution, have to do community service, and this information will be on criminal record. With no prior criminal charges the likelihood of spending time in jail will be decreased, and it may be easier to get the charges reduced to a minimum or dropped. Although the sentencing and punishments of time and money could be short lived, the ramifications of having the charges on a criminal record can be effective for years.

Impact on Employment Opportunities

It can be difficult to get jobs in certain professionals when someone has a misdemeanor on their record, and when they have the charge of reckless endangerment. This could stop someone from working as an educator, in the health field, in a caretaker position, or in a driving position. The convicted will have to explain why they committed the crime, and will have to carry this criminal record around with them. Probation can also be problematic for some people.

The Challenges of Probation

The convicted will have to go on probation for the time that the judge determines, and probation is very restricting. While on probation, there will be restrictions on lifestyle, and the convicted may have to check in with their parole officer several times. Violating probation can lead to several consequences, including jail time, longer probation, stricter probation regulations, and more fines. The probation officer will recommend what they think is needed.

Seeking Legal Representation

Anyone who has been accused of committing reckless property endangerment and believes they are innocent, or thinks that the charges are being inflated should contact a New York criminal lawyer. Anyone who needs to fight the charges so they can keep their record clean, or needs help reducing the charges and consequences also needs legal representation. A lapse in judgment or a bad decision can end up costing you a lot of time and money, and can ruin your reputation. Take care of the problem immediately and find the right representation for your case, so you can get the best outcome possible.