CRIM MISCHIEF on Texas arrest paperwork, a bond sheet, or a court docket means: Criminal Mischief (property damage, value ladder), charged under Texas Penal Code § 28.03.
Charge level: Class C misdemeanor through first-degree felony, by amount of pecuniary loss
Punishment range: Under $100: Class C. $100-$750: Class B. $750-$2,500: Class A. $2,500-$30,000: state jail felony. $30,000-$150,000: third-degree felony. Higher amounts scale to first-degree
What this charge really means
Criminal mischief follows the same value ladder as theft, but the ‘pecuniary loss’ number the state alleges is often inflated — repair estimates versus replacement cost versus actual diminished value are all fair fights. These charges also frequently arise from disputes (roommates, exes, neighbors) where ownership of the property and intent are genuinely contested.
Common questions
How is the damage amount calculated?
By cost of repair or replacement — figures that are estimates, not facts. Independent estimates regularly move cases into lower brackets.
I damaged property I partly own — is that criminal mischief?
Ownership and consent are real issues in shared-property situations. Damaging community or jointly owned property raises defenses your attorney should develop.
Can I just pay for the damage?
Restitution can help resolve a case favorably — but pay through your attorney as part of a negotiated outcome, not informally, and never as an implied admission.
Charged with CRIM MISCHIEF? Move fast.
Charges like this are shaped in the first weeks — evidence gets preserved or lost, and early counsel changes outcomes. Our attorneys are former police officers who know how these cases are built. Get a free consultation — we’ll review the facts, explain your realistic options, and quote a flat fee. Available 24/7.
This page is general legal information for Texas, not legal advice about your specific case. Penalty ranges can change with enhancements, priors, and case-specific facts. Last reviewed July 2026.
