Minnesota Arson Defense Attorney
Fires can occur for many reasons. Most of the time, it happens due to accidents. If you leave candles out, they can catch things on fire. Same if you leave electric blankets out. Electrical problems also cause a lot of fires.
However, there are times when they aren’t an accident. These fires are often considered arson.
What is arson?
Anytime a fire is set deliberately and maliciously; it is considered arson. It is a crime in Minnesota.
What are the types of arson in Minnesota?
There are different degrees of arson, depending on how you set the fire and the amount of damage that occurs.
To be considered arson in the first degree, you have to set a fire that damages or destroys a building. It doesn’t matter if anyone is living there or if anyone is in the building. If you cause significant damage to a building, you are looking at a first-degree crime.
Arson in the second degree covers fires that damage or destroy other buildings or any property that is worth more than one thousand dollars.
Arson in the third degree covers damages to property that is worth more than three hundred dollars but less than one thousand dollars.
Arson in the fourth degree covers any fires that cause damage to any personal property that is in a residential or public building. This includes rental properties, hotels, schools, restaurants, and much more.
Arson in the fifth degree covers fires that cause damage to any personal property that wasn’t mentioned with any of the other degrees of arson.
Wildfire arson is also another charge that you may be facing. If you set a fire that got out of control and did some damage, you are looking at a felony charge. This damage could be to any timber, underbrush, and other vegetation that is on the land.
If you are facing a negligent fire charge, it means that you started a fire which got out of control and did damage to someone or their property.
What are the consequences of the types of arson in Minnesota?
Your consequences depend on the degree of arson that you are convicted of. It can also depend on the amount of damage that you cause.
If you are convicted of arson in the first degree, you could spend up to twenty years in jail. You may also have to pay fines that reach up to twenty thousand dollars.
A conviction of arson in the second degree could land you in jail for up to ten years. You could also be facing fines of up to twenty thousand dollars.
Arson in the third degree is punishable with up to five years in jail. You may also have to pay fines up to ten thousand dollars.
Arson in the fourth degree is considered a gross misdemeanor. You may end up spending up to one year behind bars. Your fines could reach up to three thousand dollars.
Arson in the fifth degree is a misdemeanor. You may spend up to ninety days in jail. Your fines could go up to one thousand dollars.
The consequences that you face for wildfire and negligent arson depends on the amount of damage that occurs.
Because of the seriousness of your actions, it is important to hire a lawyer as soon as you can. His or her goal will be to get your charges dropped. If that is not possible, he or she will fight to get your charges reduced.
Your lawyer will fight for you so that one mistake won’t change the rest of your life.
Contact us for all of your legal needs.
