MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative McElwain

House Bill 53

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-17-67, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTIES FOR MALICIOUS MISCHIEF; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 97-17-67, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-17-67. Every person who shall maliciously or mischievously destroy, disfigure, or injure, or cause to be destroyed, disfigured, or injured, any property of another, valued at Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or more either real or personal, shall be guilty of malicious mischief, a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum twofold the value of the property destroyed or of the damage done, or be imprisoned not exceeding twelve (12) months in the county jail, or both. If the value of such property exceeds Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), a violation of this section shall be a felony and upon conviction any person who violates this section shall be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years and shall be fined in a sum three (3) times the value of the property destroyed or of the damage done. Anyone who by any word, deed or act directly or indirectly urges, aids, abets, suggests or otherwise instills in the mind of another the will to so act shall be considered a principal in the commission of said crime and shall be punished in the same manner.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.