Vandalism Culminates in Bomb Threat in Knoxville Neighborhood
On June 15, a West Hills neighborhood was blocked off by police officers after Knoxville City Councilwoman, Barbara Pelot, reported to the police that she had found a suspicious ticking device in her yard. A bomb squad arrived on the scene and after approximately thirty minutes, they determined that the device was not a bomb, but instead some elaborate prank.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Pelot as saying that several neighbors had complained beforehand of broken mailboxes, uprooted trees and plants, and landscaping rocks thrown into the streets. Pelot also indicated that there have been no more incidents of vandalism since the fake bomb prank.
As any resident can attest, the events that transpired in the West Hills neighborhood are common incidents one can expect when living in the cities and suburbs of East Tennessee. But vandalism is no laughing matter. If caught, charged and convicted, you could be facing either a high misdemeanor charge or a felony, depending on the amount of damage caused or the cost incurred as a result of the vandalism. In either case, you could be facing jail time and steep fines.
Additionally, having a felony on your permanent record can devastate your future prospects. A felony can affect whether you get a job, whether you receive financial aid for school and whether you can vote.
The criminal defense attorneys in Tennessee at Baker Associates understand the consequences that a young person faces when arrested and charged with vandalism. With offices in Knoxville and Sevierville, we would encourage you to seek out representation prior to speaking with anyone else and, especially, prior to entering a plea. We protect the rights of those accused of crimes and have had success in helping our clients to get charges reduced or dismissed. We can also help you with bail and, if necessary, request alternative sentencing arrangements that can prevent a vandalism crime from going on your permanent record. Consult with a vandalism attorney today by calling 866-853-2888.
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