What You Should Know About Arson in Louisiana
In Louisiana, there are four main arson charges: aggravated, intent to injure, simple, and arson with the intent to defraud. All four crimes involve the intentional burning of a building or other property (like a car or boat). Arson involves the purposeful creation of fires using flame and acceleration and/or the use of explosives. Criminal penalties will depend on the intent proven, the extent of damage caused, whether persons were endangered and/or threatened with harm, and whether harm or death occurred. In terms of intent, there can be several possible intents. Was the intent to destroy property, intent to harm another human being, intent to defraud, intent to commit some other crime where a fire started, etc.? If you are arrested and charged with arson, contact an experienced Shreveport criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. Below is a discussion of the main arson crimes in Louisiana.
Aggravated arson -- La. Rev. Stat, §14.51
Aggravated arson is the most serious of the arson criminal charges. The criminal elements that must be proven by the Louisiana government prosecutors for aggravated arson are
Intent
To damage any structure, watercraft, or other movable object
By any explosive substance or the setting of a fire
Where it is foreseeable that a human life might be endangered
If convicted, the criminal defendant will face a sentence of incarceration at hard labor from six to twenty years and a fine of up to $25,000.
Injury by arson -- La. Rev. Stat, §14.51.1
For the crime of injury by arson, the criminal elements that must be proven by the Louisiana government prosecutors are
Intent
To damage any structure, watercraft, or other movable object belonging to another
By any explosive substance or the setting of a fire
Any person suffers great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement as a result of the fire or explosion OR a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or first responder who is present at the scene and acting in the line of duty is injured as a result of the fire or explosion.
If convicted, the criminal defendant will face a sentence of incarceration at hard labor from six to twenty years and a fine of up to $25,000.
Simple arson -- La. Rev. Stat, §14.52
Simple arson can be proven in two ways. The first method involves proving the following elements:
Intent
To damage any structure, watercraft, or other movable object belonging to another
Without the owner's consent
By any explosive substance or the setting of a fire where it is not foreseeable that human life will be endangered
Or:
The starting of a fire or causing an explosion while the offender is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of another felony offense, even though the offender does not have the intent to start a fire or cause an explosion
If convicted, the criminal defendant will face a sentence of incarceration at hard labor for up to fifteen years and a fine of up to $15,000 if the value of the property destroyed is more than $500. If the property destroyed has a value of less than $500, then the person convicted faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.
Arson with intent to defraud -- La. Rev. Stat, §14.52
The elements are:
Intent
To damage any property
By any explosive substance or the setting of a fire
With the intent to defraud
If convicted, the criminal defendant will face a sentence of incarceration for up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000
Contact A Louisiana Criminal Defense Attorney Today
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams today. We are relentless and aggressive Louisiana criminal defense lawyers. Complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana criminal case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle criminal defense cases throughout all of Louisiana.