§56. Simple criminal damage to property

            A.(1) Simple criminal damage to property is the intentional damaging of any property of another, without the consent of the owner, and except as provided in R.S. 14:55, by any means other than fire or explosion.

            (2) The provisions of this Section shall include the intentional damaging of a dwelling, house, apartment, or other structure used in whole or in part as a home, residence, or place of abode by a person who leased or rented the property.

            B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of simple criminal damage to property where the damage is less than one thousand dollars shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

            (2) Where the damage amounts to one thousand dollars but less than fifty thousand dollars, the offender shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both.

            (3) Where the damage amounts to fifty thousand dollars or more, the offender shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one nor more than ten years, or both.

            (4) In addition to the foregoing penalties, a person convicted under the provisions of this Section may be ordered to make full restitution to the owner of the property. If a person ordered to make restitution is found to be indigent and therefore unable to make restitution in full at the time of conviction, the court shall order a periodic payment plan consistent with the person's ability to pay.

            C. When there has been damage to multiple properties by a number of distinct acts of the offender which are part of a continuous sequence of events, the aggregate of the amount of the damages shall determine the grade of the offense.

            Amended by Acts 1981, No. 160, §1; Acts 2006, No. 84, §1; Acts 2008, No. 97, §1; Acts 2017, No. 281, §1; Acts 2022, No. 45, §1.