Saturday, May 30th saw several Newhall storefronts vandalized by an as-yet-unidentified suspect. According to security camera footage, the suspect scratched up the storefronts of at least nine businesses on Main St. The suspect walked down the street and used a sharp object to mark up the glass as he moved from storefront to storefront. Police believe the crime may be gang-related, and are looking for a suspect in his late 20s. According to one store owner, the cost to repair the glass will be about $1,000.
Vandalism is covered under California Penal Code 594 PC, and is described as maliciously defacing someone else’s property with graffiti or some other writing, damaging the property, or destroying it. Most cases of vandalism involve typical situations. A person spray painting something on the side of a building, smashing the window of a store, or keying a car. However, vandalism can be charged in a number of situations that aren’t always so obvious. For example, it’s possible to be charged with vandalism for something as seemingly innocuous as writing your initials in wet cement (provided that wet cement wasn’t your own property, of course).
The charges and penalties will depend on the monetary amount of damage that was done to the property. If the damage will cost less than $400 to repair, vandalism will likely be charged as a misdemeanor with the possible penalties of up to 1-year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. However, if the damage adds up to $400 or greater, then the crime becomes a “wobbler.”
If the charge is a “wobbler,” that means it’s possible to be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Felony penalties include anywhere from 1 to 3-years in county jail and fines of up to $10,000.
Given the number of storefronts vandalized in the above case, and the money it will cost to have the damage repaired, it’s likely that the suspect will be facing significant felony charges when he is arrested.
