Exam 8: Property Destruction Offenses

The Texas arson statute applies to fires and explosions.What constitutes a fire? What is an explosion?

Larry breaks into the local pharmacy where he steals a variety of controlled substances.In an effort to cover up his burglary,Larry sets fire to building.Larry has committed:

Create a decision tree to assist in sorting acts of arson from acts of criminal mischief.

The ___________ is the series of domestic outbuildings that surround and support a residence.

Bill and Ted,two 17-year-olds,are driving about on Halloween night.For entertainment they decide to play a game of "mailbox baseball." As Bill drives the car down a rural road,Ted swings a baseball bat at the mailboxes.Ted goes four for five in his efforts to hit the boxes.The ones he does strike are damaged beyond repair.A resident hears the commotion and is able to record the vehicle license number.She calls the sheriff who ultimately identifies Bill and Ted as the ones responsible for the destroyed mailboxes.Which of the following statements is correct regarding this incident?

Like Common Law arson,the Texas law of arson applies only to dwelling houses.

The Texas arson statute penalizes persons who start a _____ or cause an _________ under certain specified circumstances.

Should petty acts of vandalism constitute a Class C misdemeanor irrespective of whether they cause monetary loss or substantial inconvenience to the property owner? For example,should toilet papering a house,rearranging yard displays,writing on windows with white shoe polish,and the like be penalized or are these types of activities essentially harmless pranks not sufficiently worthy of state protection?

Assuming all other elements of the crime are present,it is no ________ to a charge of arson that the damaged property belonged to the offender.

One way to commit criminal mischief is to intentionally tamper with property and cause pecuniary loss.The word "pecuniary" refers to a loss measurable in __________.

Whether a fire is considered to be arson or non-criminal conduct is largely determined by whether the individual starting the fire had a $\underline{ (\text { two words })}$ to damage or destroy the property.

Doug is feuding with his neighbor Charles.Late one night,Doug pours sugar into the gas tank of Charles's pick-up truck.The next morning when Charles tries to drive to work,the truck sputters to a stop about a mile from home.The vehicle is towed to a mechanic who discovers that the gasoline is contaminated with sugar.Repairs to the truck cost Charles $600.Doug has committed:

While the elements of the Texas criminal mischief statute and the Texas graffiti statute overlap somewhat,the graffiti statute is directed largely toward property damage caused by the use of:

Joe is angry at his neighbor Fred for allowing his dog to dig up Joe's flowers.In retaliation,Joe sets fire to Fred's wooden storage shed,which is located in Fred's backyard.Joe has committed the crime of arson instead of merely criminal mischief because the storage shed:

In order to avoid violating the arson statute,a commercial demolition company must obtain a permit from local authorities before using explosives to demolish a building.

Define the terms "damage," "destroy," and "tamper" in the context of the Texas criminal mischief statute.

Under Texas law,for arson to occur an actual burning of someone else's property,no matter how slight,must occur.

An arson occurs if the owner of a vehicle uses fire to destroy the vehicle and the vehicle is subject to a $\underline{ (\text { two words })}$ .

Under Texas law,certain forms of arson require proof of three mens rea elements.

So long as "reasonable precautions" are taken,no crime occurs if a property owner uses fire or explosives to destroy any building on his own land.