It may seem far-fetched, but a Texas man was recently sentenced to 30 days in jail for criminal mischief. His crime? Licking a tub of Blue Bell ice cream and putting it back into the freezer at a Port Arthur, Texas Wal-Mart.
Prosecutors in Texas charged the 24-year old with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, for which he pleaded guilty. The Texas court sentenced the prankster to 30 days in county jail, a $1,000 fine, and $1,565 in restitution to Blue Bell Creameries.
Interestingly, store surveillance videos actually showed the man purchased the tub of ice cream he licked but not before store employees had destroyed the store’s Blue Bell ice cream inventory as they were unsure which tub had been licked.
In Indiana, criminal mischief (Ind. Code 35-43-1-2) can be a class A or B misdemeanor or even a level 6 felony, depending upon the circumstances. In short, criminal mischief is recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally damaging or defacing the property of another without consent.
A criminal mischief charge can be a serious in Indiana. A level 6 felony can result in a jail sentence of six months to three years and a fine of up to $10,000. If you are facing a criminal mischief charge in Indiana, it is important that you retain an attorney to protect your rights and fight a possible felony conviction.
Contact Stidham Legal, your Northwest Indiana attorney, for a free criminal defense consultation.
