Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.48
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090 (2026)

Malicious mischief in the third degree

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) A person is guilty of malicious mischief in the third degree if he or she:
(a) Knowingly and maliciously causes physical damage to the property of another, under circumstances not amounting to malicious mischief in the first or second degree; or
(b) Writes, paints, or draws any inscription, figure, or mark of any type on any public or private building or other structure or any real or personal property owned by any other person unless the person has obtained the express permission of the owner or operator of the property, under circumstances not amounting to malicious mischief in the first or second degree.
(2) Malicious mischief in the third degree is a gross misdemeanor.
[ 2009 c 431 s 6; 2003 c 53 s 71; 1996 c 35 s 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.48.090.]

Notes:

Applicability—2009 c 431: See note following RCW 4.24.230.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Property crime database, liability: RCW 4.24.340.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 58 cases (17 in the last 5 years), 1981–2026 · leading case: United States v. Jose Valdivia-Flores, 876 F.3d 1201 (9th Cir. 2017).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
United States v. Jose Valdivia-Flores, 876 F.3d 1201 (9th Cir. 2017). · cites it 2× “In 2009, Valdivia-Flores was convicted of malicious mischief in the third degree in violation of Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090 for smashing the windshield of his wife’s vehicle after an argument.”
State v. Schaffer, 845 P.2d 281 (Wash. 1993). · cites it 4× “On July 7, 1989, Schaffer was charged with one count of third degree malicious mischief, RCW 9A.48.090. The information alleged: That the respondent Patrick J.”
State v. Abdi-Issa, 504 P.3d 223 (Wash. 2022). · cites it 2× “080); (xiv) Malicious mischief in the third degree (RCW 9A.48.090); (xv) Kidnapping in the first degree (RCW 9A.”
State v. Jackson, 774 P.2d 1211 (Wash. 1989). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.48.090 defines malicious mischief in the third degree as: (1) A person is guilty of malicious mischief in the third degree if he knowingly and maliciously causes physical damage to the property of another, .”
State v. Lopez, 20 P.3d 978 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “025(1)), third degree malicious mischief (RCW 9A.48.090(l)(a)), and being a minor in possession (RCW 66.”
State v. Barry, 339 P.3d 200 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “RCW 9A.48.090(l)(b). ¶23 The five photographs depicting “KKK” spray painted on various items on the three injured properties are relevant to the crimes charged because they show physical damage on each of the three properties.”
State v. Talley, 858 P.2d 217 (Wash. 2005). “These examples, which include (i) cross burning, (ii) hate symbols, and (iii) oral or written communication designed to harass or intimidate, do not themselves constitute the crime unless they place another in reasonable fear of harm to his/her person or property or the person…”
State v. Hunotte, 851 P.2d 694 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “100) and malicious mischief in the third degree (RCW 9A.48.090(1), (2)). The information alleged that Hunotte "did unlawfully with intent to commit a crime .”
State v. Saunders, 132 P.3d 743 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “See RCW 9A.48.090; RCW 9.92.030. We agree and vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing within the statutory limits.”
State v. Snapp, 82 P.3d 252 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “080); (n) Malicious mischief in the third degree (RCW 9A.48.090); ( o ) Kidnapping in the first degree (RCW 9A.”
State v. Saunders, 132 P.3d 743 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “See RCW 9A.48.090; RCW 9.92.030. We agree and vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing within the statutory limits.”
Derek Tucson v. City of Seattle, 91 F.4th 1318 (9th Cir. 2024). “” Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9A.48.090(1)(b). In the City’s view, “[b]ecause the state law remains in force in Seattle, the court’s order enjoining the [Local] Ordinance cannot redress Plaintiffs’ claimed injury.”
Show all 58 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(1) — 3 cases
State v. Hunotte, 851 P.2d 694 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “100) and malicious mischief in the third degree (RCW 9A.48.090(1), (2)). The information alleged that Hunotte "did unlawfully with intent to commit a crime .”
State v. Rivas, 278 P.3d 686 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Sanders, 827 P.2d 354 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(1)(a) — 18 cases
State v. Abdi-Issa, 504 P.3d 223 (Wash. 2022). “080); (xiv) Malicious mischief in the third degree (RCW 9A.48.090); (xv) Kidnapping in the first degree (RCW 9A.”
State v. Zatkovich, 113 Wash. App. 70 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Olsen, 309 P.3d 518 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Lopez, 20 P.3d 978 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001).
State v. Zatkovich, 52 P.3d 36 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(1)(b) — 3 cases
Derek Tucson v. City of Seattle, 91 F.4th 1318 (9th Cir. 2024). “” Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9A.48.090(1)(b). In the City’s view, “[b]ecause the state law remains in force in Seattle, the court’s order enjoining the [Local] Ordinance cannot redress Plaintiffs’ claimed injury.”
Bledsoe v. Ferry Cnty. (E.D. Wash. 2020).
State Of Washington v. Anthony Tyrone Clark (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(2) — 2 cases
State v. Schaffer, 845 P.2d 281 (Wash. 1993). “On July 7, 1989, Schaffer was charged with one count of third degree malicious mischief, RCW 9A.48.090. The information alleged: That the respondent Patrick J.”
State v. Sanders, 827 P.2d 354 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(a) — 3 cases
In Re The Petition To Convene A Grand Jury, Barnes Michael Ware, 420 P.3d 1083 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
Bledsoe v. Ferry Cnty. (E.D. Wash. 2020).
Bledsoe v. Ferry Cnty. (E.D. Wash. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(b) — 1 case
Bledsoe v. Ferry Cnty. (E.D. Wash. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(l)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Lopez, 20 P.3d 978 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “025(1)), third degree malicious mischief (RCW 9A.48.090(l)(a)), and being a minor in possession (RCW 66.”
State v. K.R., 282 P.3d 1112 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.090(l)(b) — 1 case
State v. Barry, 339 P.3d 200 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “RCW 9A.48.090(l)(b). ¶23 The five photographs depicting “KKK” spray painted on various items on the three injured properties are relevant to the crimes charged because they show physical damage on each of the three properties.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.