Arson. Completed Cita­tions. 38, par. Arson is a Class 2 felony. According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, almost 17,000 acts of arson occur annually in the United States, leading to over half a million dollars in property losses each year. A person convicted in court of a felony becomes labeled a felon. 97-1108, eff. An arson conviction can result in a lengthy prison sentence on top of hefty fines and restitution for any property damage. If less than $500, the offense is a first degree misdemeanor. Crimes that do not amount to the level of a felony will usually fall into one of two other categories: misdemeanors or citations. (Source: P.A. Willful or Malicious Arson. If the dwelling burned was unoccupied at the time of the burning, the offense is Search by Keyword or Citation; ... An offense under Subsection (a-1) is a state jail felony, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that bodily injury or death was suffered by any person by reason of the commission of the offense. Punishment for arson. How Serious Is an Arson … 20-1.1) Sec. Considered a serious violent felony, arson is a charge that involves willfully or unlawfully causing damages by fire or by explosion. (a) Arson that causes great bodily injury is a felony punishable by … Arson involves setting fire to property intentionally. 7. Punishments tend to be a more severe felony charge due to the potential to cause injuries or death. A person is guilty of arson when he or she willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels, or procures the burning of, any structure, forest land, or property. While in the majority of cases, starting a fire can be charged as a felony, there are situations where your charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor. Code § 99-1-5 (2020).) State v. Gibson, 42 Or App 575, 600 P2d 962 (1979), Sup Ct review denied. First-degree arson is a felony. A person may commit this crime for a number of reasons, such as covering up a crime they previously committed or deceiving an insurance company in … Aggravated Arson. If the dwelling burned was occupied at the time of the burning, the offense is arson in the first degree and is punishable as a Class D felony. In some situations and in some states, arson may only amount to a misdemeanor offense, though felony charges are also possible. Arson is a crime of willfully and maliciously setting fire to or charring property. A felony conviction becomes part of your permanent criminal record. It is considered a violent crime and is treated as a felony in most states. More serious than simple arson, aggravated arson carries much harsher sentences. As previously mentioned, felonies tend to be more violent in nature; however, there are several non-violent felony crimes. Arson in sec­ond de­gree may be lesser included of­fense under indict­ment for arson in first de­gree of an­oth­er’s protected prop­erty. 1-1-13.) Some states, like Arizona, allow defendants to raise voluntary intoxication, or being drunk, as a defense. Often, arson results in damage to residential or commercial buildings, but in some cases it can result in damage to public property, such as a national forest. California Arson Laws at a Glance The chart below contains specific references to … Arson in the third degree is a class C felony. There shall be two degrees of arson as defined at the common law. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help evaluate the evidence against you and develop a strong defense on your behalf. Arson is defined as the willful and malicious burning of the property of another. Arson in the first degree is a class A felony. Definitions of misdemeanor arson vary by state, so the defensive options will also vary. Prison terms, based on the circumstances of the crime, are: Malicious arson of personal property: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years; Malicious arson of a structure or forest land: 2, 4, or 6 years Arson is an example of one of those types of conduct. Since arson is charged as a felony, a conviction of this crime will result in the defendant losing his rights to own and possess a gun. Felony offenses are more serious than misdemeanor offenses, and typically involve significant damage to property or fires set in homes, dwelling places, or buildings with people inside of them. Residential arson or place of worship arson is a Class 1 felony. Search Texas Statutes. 20-1.1. (Miss. Sentences and Fines for Arson Charges Potential sentences are slightly lower in cases of arson to property other than a building. 4. If you commit arson in violation of federal law, it is not up to you where you will be prosecuted. Non-violent crimes do not Even if the crimes of arson or aggravated arson don't apply, a person can still be held criminally liable for unlawfully causing a fire if he or she recklessly sets fire to any structure, forest land or property. This is a Class I felony, punishable by up to 3 years and 6 months in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. Due to fire’s volatile nature and the potential for people to be injured or die, arson is typically classified as a felony rather than a misdemeanor. There are … For this reason, you will need a trial lawyer who has the experience and knows the law. Elements of Felony Arson A person commits first-degree arson if he/she willfully or maliciously sets fire to: 1. a multi-unit building where at least one unit is a dwelling, 2. property and someone is physically hurt as a result, and/or 3. a mine. Arson is a Class C felony and carries a potential sentence of 3-15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Prison. A few other crimes, such as felony abuse of a vulnerable person or assistance-program fraud, have five- or six-year limits. The penalties associated … Arson is a serious criminal charge and a convicted will impact your future for years to come. As mentioned, arson is the setting of a fire or causing of an explosion combined with another element. Arson in the first degree is the most serious arson charge. Felony crimes also include some of the most serious types of crimes that a person can commit, such as first-degree murder and arson. Beyond Sentencing: Other Consequences of Felony Convictions. § 14-58. Any felony punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison for life. According to § 150.10 of the New York penal law, a person is guilty of arson in the third degree when s/heintentionally damages a building or motor vehicle by starting a fire or causing an explosion. Crimes considered a felony can include: aggravated assault and/or battery, arson, burglary, domestic violence, drug-related crimes, DUI, fraud, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, rape, robbery, theft and vandalism. Frequently, arson is associated with insurance fraud, which is a serious felony. Ref: TCA 39-14-301. State v. Washington, 5 Or App 347, 483 P2d 465 (1971), Sup Ct review denied Title XLVI § 806.01 of the Florida Statutes states that a person may be charged with arson should the following be damaged: Any dwelling, occupied or not, or its contents; Arson is considered a property crime in the state of Kansas. Most states no longer require that the property damaged or destroyed be a dwelling or even a building, and the knowing burning of personal property without consent or with unlawful intent is generally enough to constitute arson.1 Although arson is generally a felony, many state laws include different degrees of severity depending on the defendant's intent, how the fire or explosion was caused, and whether the fire or explosion resulted in physical injury or death. So, setting fire to a building that had people in it at the time could lead to a first-degree arson charge. There are certain types of arson offenses that are illegal under both federal law and state law. Arson is a crime that states have divided into different degrees of severity. Others limit the use of voluntary intoxication for misdemeanor arson charges based on reckless conduct. Arson and Other Burnings. You may be charged with first-degree arson if you set fire to occupied property. (720 ILCS 5/20-1.1) (from Ch. 1. A common motive for arson is to commit insurance fraud. Felony arson is the crime of willful and malicious burning of property, including buildings, structures, vehicles, or parks, forests and preserves, where the value of the property or the amount of the damage caused is over $500. Arson in the second degree. Insurance fraud occurs when individuals purchase insurance on their homes, vehicles, businesses, or anything insurable, and burn those things to the ground for the insurance money. Are there related offenses? F. Whoever commits arson when the damage is over twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) is guilty of a second degree felony. Arson laws and penalties vary by jurisdiction. A couple of states have a lower charge of state jail felony arson or misdemeanor arson, but for many, third degree arson is the lowest category. Arson in the first degree. In some states, arson can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, while in others it’s always a felony. Aggravated Arson. 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