18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304

 Criminal mischief.

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§ 3304.  Criminal mischief.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person is guilty of criminal mischief if he:

(1)  damages tangible property of another intentionally, recklessly, or by negligence in the employment of fire, explosives, or other dangerous means listed in section 3302(a) of this title (relating to causing or risking catastrophe);

(2)  intentionally or recklessly tampers with tangible property of another so as to endanger person or property;

(3)  intentionally or recklessly causes another to suffer pecuniary loss by deception or threat;

(4)  intentionally defaces or otherwise damages tangible public property or tangible property of another with graffiti by use of any aerosol spray-paint can, broad-tipped indelible marker or similar marking device;

(5)  intentionally damages real or personal property of another; or

(6)  intentionally defaces personal, private or public property by discharging a paintball gun or paintball marker at that property.

(b)  Grading.--Criminal mischief is a felony of the third degree if the actor intentionally causes pecuniary loss in excess of $5,000, or a substantial interruption or impairment of public communication, transportation, supply of water, gas or power, or other public service. It is a misdemeanor of the second degree if the actor intentionally causes pecuniary loss in excess of $1,000, or a misdemeanor of the third degree if he intentionally or recklessly causes pecuniary loss in excess of $500 or causes a loss in excess of $150 for a violation of subsection (a)(4). Otherwise criminal mischief is a summary offense.

(c)  Definition.--As used in this section, the term "graffiti" means an unauthorized inscription, word, figure, mark or design which is written, marked, etched, scratched, drawn or painted.

(Apr. 21, 1994, P.L.131, No.17, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 1996, P.L.1522, No.198, eff. 60 days; Oct. 2, 2002, P.L.806, No.116, eff. imd.; Dec. 22, 2005, P.L.449, No.85, eff. 60 days)

 

2005 Amendment.  Act 85 amended subsec. (a).

2002 Amendment.  Act 116 amended subsec. (a) and added subsec. (c).

1996 Amendment.  Act 198 amended subsec. (b).

1994 Amendment.  See the preamble to Act 17 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations.

Cross References.  Section 3304 is referred to in sections 3311, 9122.1 of this title; sections 3573, 9720 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 184 cases (31 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Weir
Commonwealth v. Weir (2018) pasuperct · cites it 3× “" 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(5). Mr. Korimko testified that Appellant punched his motorcycle, causing damage.”
Com. v. Edwards, M. (2020) pasuperct · cites it 3× “]” 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3304(a)(2), (a)(5) (emphasis added).”
Com. v. Sulpizio, A. (2022) pasuperct · cites it 6× “1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(5). J-S24045-22 recognized Sulpizio because he had previously interacted with him during his work at AWC.”
Com. v. Kearney, T. (2019) pasuperct · cites it 4× “On appeal, Appellant contends the court erred in sua sponte amending the grading of the charge of the offense from a felony of the third degree, involving at least $5,000 in pecuniary loss, to a misdemeanor of the third degree, requiring at least $500 in pecuniary loss, at the…”
Commonwealth v. Antidormi (2014) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(1). . 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(a)(1).”
Commonwealth v. Giulian v. Aplt. (2016) pa “Appellant was then arrested on September 27, 1998, and pleaded guilty to the summary offense of criminal mischief, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304. Appellant has had no arrests since September 27,1998.”
Commonwealth v. Veon (2016) pa “, 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3304 (grading criminal mischief by monetary damage thresholds), 3307 (same, institutional vandalism), 3309 (same, agricultural vandalism); see also 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Knoble (2018) pasuperct “§ 6105(a)(1) ; 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(1) ; and 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928(a), respectively.”
Commonwealth v. McNeal (2015) pasuperct · cites it 2× “§ 3503, criminal mischief, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304, and criminal attempt — theft, 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Berrigan (1984) pa · cites it 4× “[2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304. [3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 903. [4] Appellants argue that the property damage assessment was too high because it did not include the salvageable value of the damaged missile shell.”
Commonwealth v. Marrero (2006) pasuperct · cites it 2× “18 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 3921(a). 2 . 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Berrigan (1985) pa · cites it 2× “[2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304. [3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 903. [4] 18 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(5) — 1 case
Com. v. Garvey, D. (2020) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(A) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Mitchell (1993) pactcompldelawa
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(A)(2) — 1 case
Com. v. Dicks, A. (2017) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(A)(5) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Rhodes (2010) pactcompllawren
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(A4) — 1 case
Com. v. Thompson, W. (2016) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(a) — 12 cases
Commonwealth v. Braykovich (1995) pasuperct
Commonwealth v. Marrero (2006) pasuperct “18 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 3921(a). 2 . 18 Pa.”
In the Interest of Golden (1976) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(a)(1) — 21 cases
Commonwealth v. Antidormi (2014) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(1). . 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(a)(1).”
Commonwealth v. Knoble (2018) pasuperct “§ 6105(a)(1) ; 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(1) ; and 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928(a), respectively.”
Commonwealth v. Andre (2011) pasuperct
Commonwealth v. Blady (1982) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(a)(2) — 26 cases
Com. v. Edwards, M. (2020) pasuperct “]” 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3304(a)(2), (a)(5) (emphasis added).”
Com. v. Kearney, T. (2019) pasuperct “On appeal, Appellant contends the court erred in sua sponte amending the grading of the charge of the offense from a felony of the third degree, involving at least $5,000 in pecuniary loss, to a misdemeanor of the third degree, requiring at least $500 in pecuniary loss, at the…”
Commonwealth v. Kirk J. (1981) pasuperct
Com. v. Edwards, M. (2020) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(a)(3) — 3 cases
Com. v. Clelland, N. (2017) pasuperct
Shelton v. Gure (2021) pamd
Com. v. Perrelli, A. (2014) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(a)(4) — 8 cases
Com. v. Spillman, K. (2016) pasuperct
Com. v. White, S. (2017) pasuperct
Com. v. Robinson, J. (2019) pasuperct
Com. v. Pennington, W. (2021) pasuperct
Com. v. Thompson, W. (2016) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(a)(5) — 49 cases
Commonwealth v. Weir (2018) pasuperct “" 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(5). Mr. Korimko testified that Appellant punched his motorcycle, causing damage.”
Com. v. Sulpizio, A. (2022) pasuperct “1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(5). J-S24045-22 recognized Sulpizio because he had previously interacted with him during his work at AWC.”
Com. v. Edwards, M. (2020) pasuperct “]” 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3304(a)(2), (a)(5) (emphasis added).”
Commonwealth v. Widmer (2015) pasuperct
Commonwealth v. Kepner (2011) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(a)(l) — 5 cases
Commonwealth v. Keenan (2010) pactcomplberks
Com. v. Gunn, O. (2020) pasuperct
Com. v. Mongeau, P. (2020) pasuperct
Commonwealth v. Lazar (2007) pactcompllancas
Commonwealth v. Exley (1992) pactcomplcrawfo
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(b) — 20 cases
Com. v. Sulpizio, A. (2022) pasuperct “1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(5). J-S24045-22 recognized Sulpizio because he had previously interacted with him during his work at AWC.”
Commonwealth v. McNeal (2015) pasuperct “§ 3503, criminal mischief, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304, and criminal attempt — theft, 18 Pa.”
Com. v. Kearney, T. (2019) pasuperct “On appeal, Appellant contends the court erred in sua sponte amending the grading of the charge of the offense from a felony of the third degree, involving at least $5,000 in pecuniary loss, to a misdemeanor of the third degree, requiring at least $500 in pecuniary loss, at the…”
Commonwealth v. Marrero (2006) pasuperct “18 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 3921(a). 2 . 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Valentin (1978) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3304(x)(5) — 1 case
Com. v. Wade, H. (2026) pasuperct
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