Man Arrested, Charged With Criminal Mischief In Relation To Antisemitic Banner Hung On Orlando Highway Overpass
According to a report from the Orlando Sentinel, a second man has been arrested in relation to an antisemitic billboard that was displayed on a local highway overpass. Anthony Altick is facing a criminal mischief charge. In this blog post, our Orlando criminal defense attorney explains what we know about this case and provides an overview of criminal mischief charges in Florida.
Allegations: Man Hung Antisemitic Sign from Orlando Highway
Anthony Altick, a 36-year-old man, was arrested for his involvement in a neo-Nazi demonstration that occurred in Orlando in June of 2023. During the demonstration, antisemitic banners were displayed over Interstate 4, near Walt Disney World. Specifically, Mr. Altick was charged with criminal mischief for allegedly hanging banners on the Daryl Carter Parkway Bridge. Notably, another man was previously charged with a similar offense related to the incident last month. Florida authorities are still searching for two other out-of-state suspects.
An Overview of Criminal Mischief Charges in Florida
In Florida, criminal mischief is the willful and malicious destruction of property that belongs to another person. In many other jurisdictions, you will hear this offense referred to simply as “vandalism.” Depending on the specific nature of the allegations, a criminal mischief charge could either be a misdemeanor or a felony in Florida. There was no reporting yet as whether Mr. Altick is facing misdemeanor or felony charges for his role in the antisemitic banner incident. Here is a more detailed overview of criminal mischief charges in Florida:
- Definition of Criminal Mischief: As stated previously, criminal mischief in Florida is I defined as the willful and malicious injury or damages to any real or personal property belonging to another. The term can cover graffiti or other acts of vandalism.
- Classification of Criminal Mischief: The severity of a criminal mischief charge is largely based on the extent of the damages. When property damage is $200 or less, the offense is a second-degree misdemeanor. When property damage is $200 and $1,000, the offense is a first-degree misdemeanor. However, when property damage exceeds $1,000, a person could face a third-degree felony charge for criminal mischief.
- Restitution for Criminal Mischief: In many cases, those convicted of criminal mischief are required to pay restitution. In other words, they must compensate the victim for the value of the damaged property. How much, if any, restitution will be required is generally handled as part of the entire criminal case. In some cases, agreeing to provide full restitution could lead to a reduction of other criminal penalties, such as jail time.
Get Help From Orlando, FL Criminal Mischief Defense Lawyer Now
At The Baez Law Firm, we are standing by, ready to help you find the best solutions. Arrested for criminal mischief? Our attorney gets results for clients. Contact our criminal defense firm today to set up your confidential initial case review. From our Orlando law office, we defend misdemeanor charges across Orange County and throughout Central Florida.
Source:
orlandosentinel.com/2023/09/18/2nd-arrest-made-in-orlando-neo-nazi-banner-display-on-i-4-fdle-says/
