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2024 Kentucky Revised Statutes
Chapter 512 - Criminal damage to property
512.020 Criminal mischief in the first degree.

Universal Citation:
KY Rev Stat § 512.020 (2024)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
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512.020 Criminal mischief in the first degree. (1) (2) A person is guilty of criminal mischief in the first degree when, having no right to do so or any reasonable ground to believe that he or she has such right, he or she intentionally or wantonly: (a) Defaces, destroys, or damages any property causing pecuniary loss of five hundred dollars ($500) or more; (b) Tampers with the operations of a key infrastructure asset, as defined in KRS 511.100, in a manner that renders the operations harmful or dangerous; or (c) As a tenant, intentionally or wantonly defaces, destroys, or damages residential rental property causing pecuniary loss of five hundred dollars ($500) or more. Criminal mischief in the first degree is a Class D felony, unless: (a) The offense occurs during a declared emergency as defined by KRS 39A.020 arising from a natural or man-made disaster, within the area covered by the emergency declaration, and within the area impacted by the disaster, in which case it is a Class C felony; (b) For the first offense, if the defendant at any time prior to trial effects repair or replacement of the defaced, destroyed, or damaged property, makes complete restitution in the amount of the damage, or performs community service as required by the court, in which case it is a Class B misdemeanor. The court shall determine the number of hours of community service commensurate with the total amount of monetary damage caused by or incidental to the commission of the crime, of not less than sixty (60) hours; or (c) For the second or subsequent offense, if the defendant at any time prior to trial effects repair or replacement of the defaced, destroyed, or damaged property, makes complete restitution in the amount of the damage, or performs community service as required by the court, in which case it is a Class A misdemeanor. The court shall determine the number of hours of community service commensurate with the total amount of monetary damage caused by or incidental to the commission of the crime, of not less than sixty (60) hours. Effective: July 15, 2024 History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 174, sec. 10, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 151, sec. 9, effective July 14, 2022. -- Amended 2021 Ky. Acts ch. 164, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2021. -- Amended 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 12, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2020. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 183, sec. 3. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 106, effective January 1, 1975.
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