Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 53a — PENAL CODE · Chapter 952 — Penal Code: Offenses
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-116 (2026)

Criminal mischief in the second degree: Class A misdemeanor

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) A person is guilty of criminal mischief in the second degree when: (1) With intent to cause damage to tangible property of another and having no reasonable ground to believe that such person has a right to do so, such person damages tangible property of another in an amount exceeding two hundred fifty dollars; or (2) with intent to cause an interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public and having no reasonable ground to believe that such person has a right to do so, such person damages or tampers with tangible property of a public utility or mode of public transportation, power or communication, and thereby causes a risk of interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public; or (3) with intent to cause damage to tangible property owned by the state or a municipality that is located on public land and having no reasonable ground to believe that such person has a right to do so, such person damages such tangible property in an amount exceeding two hundred fifty dollars.

(b) Criminal mischief in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 118; P.A. 05-234, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 05-234 added Subsec. (a)(3) re damage to tangible property owned by the state or a municipality located on public land in an amount exceeding $250 and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective January 1, 2006.

See Sec. 53a-44a re surcharge on fine for criminal mischief on public land.

Cited. 236 C. 266.

Cited. 11 CA 805; 36 CA 680.

Cited. 38 CS 301.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1981–2025 · leading case: State v. Varszegi, 673 A.2d 90 (Conn. 1996).
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State v. Varszegi, 673 A.2d 90 (Conn. 1996). · cites it 4× “The defendant, Paul Varszegi, was convicted of attempted escape in the first degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-49 1 and 53a-169 (a) (1 2 and criminal mischief in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-116 (a) (1). 3 The Appellate Court affirmed the…”
State v. Spikes, 961 A.2d 426 (Conn. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 2× “ry in the third degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-103 (a), and larceny in the second degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-123 (a) (2) and 53a-119 based on a February 19, 2005 incident, and of attempt to commit burglary in the second degree in violation of…”
State v. Varszegi, 653 A.2d 201 (Conn. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 4× “The defendant appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of attempted escape in the first degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-49 and 53a-169 (a) (l), 1 and criminal mischief in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-116 (a)…”
State v. Servello, 835 A.2d 102 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “The defendant claimed that he was to plead guilty to the reduced charge of reckless burning in violation of General Statutes § 53a-114 and criminal mischief in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-116, and be sentenced to six years imprisonment, execution…”
State v. Palmenta, 144 A.3d 503 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “CR-07-124076-S, the defendant [pleaded] guilty to burglary in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-102 (a)(2) ; attempt [to commit] larceny in the third degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-124 (a)(2) and 53a-49 ; and criminal mischief in the second…”
State v. Lanagan, 986 A.2d 1113 (Conn. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 2× “In 2006, the defendant was convicted, under three separate criminal docket numbers, of threatening in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-62, criminal mischief in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-116 and criminal violation of a…”
Stone v. Town of Westport, 411 F. Supp. 2d 77 (D. Conn. 2006). · cites it 2× “After the statements were made, Officer Cabral arrested Stone for criminal *82 mischief, 4 in violation of Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-116. 5 Defendants contend that Officer Cabral’s conclusion that he had probable cause to arrest Stone was based on the two sworn witness statements,…”
State v. Moffett, 444 A.2d 239 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1981). “A jury convicted the defendant of being an accessory to the crime of criminal mischief in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-8 and § 53a-116. From the judgment rendered, the defendant has appealed, claiming that the trial court erred by (1) allowing the…”
Cipes v. Graham, 386 F. Supp. 2d 34 (D. Conn. 2005). · cites it 2× “§ 53a-173, for his non-appearance in court on a prior misdemeanor charge of “Criminal mischief in the second degree,” Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-116. See Arrest Warrant and Application [Doc.”
State v. Aylward, 868 A.2d 106 (Conn. App. Ct. 2005). · cites it 2× “*99 On the basis of these facts, the court’s denial of the defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence was proper. The judgment is affirmed.”
State v. Rollins, 714 A.2d 1217 (Conn. 1998). · cites it 2× “In twelve separate informations, the defendant was charged with ten counts of burglary in the third degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-103, four counts each of larceny in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-123, and larceny in the third degree in…”
State v. Clark, 834 A.2d 768 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “Statutes § 53a-167c (a) (1), one count of possession of narcotics in violation of General Statutes § 21a-279 (b), one count of possession of narcotics with intent to sell in violation of General Statutes § 21a-278 (b), one count of operation of a drug factory in violation of…”
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