Frequent Crimes and Penalties in Columbus, GA

Frequent Crimes and Penalties in Columbus, GA

Living in Columbus, GA can be great – there’s always something fun happening downtown, and the people here are super friendly. But like any city, we do have some crime. This article will go over some of the most common crimes here in Columbus and what the penalties are if you get caught.

Property Crimes

Property crimes like theft, vandalism, and arson are unfortunately pretty common in Columbus. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most frequent property crimes and what’ll happen if you get busted:

• Theft – This includes shoplifting, pickpocketing, stealing a bike, etc. If the value of what you take is less than $500, it’s a misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail. Over $500 and it becomes a felony with 1-10 years in prison.
• Vandalism – If you get caught spray painting a building or keying someone’s car, you could face fines up to $1000 and even jail time.
• Arson – This is when you intentionally set fire to a building or property. Even a small arson can get you 1-20 years in prison!

The penalties get even worse if someone gets hurt or killed because of one of these property crimes. Like if your arson kills someone, you could be looking at life imprisonment or even the death penalty. So don’t do it!

Drug Crimes

With Columbus being a college town, drug use and possession is pretty common. But don’t think you can get away with it – Columbus cops take drug crimes seriously.

• Possession of Marijuana – Less than 1 oz is a misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail. Between 1-10 lbs is a felony with 1-10 years in prison.
• Possession of Cocaine, Heroin, Meth – Even a small amount of these drugs can get you 1-15 years in prison.
• Selling Drugs – Selling any illegal drug in Columbus is a felony with up to 30 years in prison.

Because of the opioid crisis, cops and judges are really cracking down on drug crimes nowadays. So be smart and don’t take chances.

Assault and Battery

Folks in Columbus can get pretty rowdy sometimes, especially when booze gets involved. Assault and battery charges are common here. Even if it’s just a drunken bar fight, you could be looking at:

• Simple Assault – Up to 1 year in jail
• Aggravated Assault – 1-20 years in prison
• Simple Battery – Up to 1 year in jail
• Aggravated Battery – 2-20 years in prison

And if the person you assault is a cop, you’ll face even harsher penalties. My advice? Walk away from fights before things get out of hand.

DUI

DUI is another very common crime here in Columbus. With so many bars and college kids out partying, drunk driving happens a lot. But it comes with stiff penalties:

• 1st Offense – Up to 1 year in jail, $1,000 fine
• 2nd Offense – 90 days-1 year in jail, $600-$1000 fine
• 3rd Offense – 120 days-1 year in jail, $1000-$5000 fine

And that’s not even including license suspension, mandatory DUI classes, and sky-high insurance rates. Take a taxi or use Uber if you’ve had more than a couple drinks.

Sex Crimes

Sex crimes are always taken very seriously in Columbus. Even minor offenses can ruin your reputation and land you in prison:

• Indecent Exposure – Up to 1 year in jail
• Sexual Battery – 1-20 years in prison
• Rape – Minimum 25 years to life in prison

Plus if convicted, you’ll have to register as a sex offender. Not worth it!

What Else Can Happen If You’re Convicted?

Aside from fines and jail time, a conviction can really mess up your life in other ways too:

• Lose your job
• Get kicked out of school
• Lose voting rights
• Lose gun ownership rights
• Difficulty finding housing
• Difficulty getting student loans

So if you do get arrested, take it seriously and hire a good lawyer. A conviction affects way more than just your freedom.

What’s the Bottom Line?

While Columbus is an amazing city, we do have our share of crime like anywhere else. If you want to avoid fines, jail time, and having your life ruined, follow the law! And if you do get into trouble, call a lawyer right away – they can help minimize the penalties. Stay safe out there Columbus!