Question: My son scratched a friends car with a key. What charges can he be faced with?
Answer: He could be charged with Criminal Damage (A.R.S. 13-1602) and depending on the cost to repair the damage or the amount of damage done, it could be a felony or a misdemeanor. In Arizona, if the amount of damage is over $250, the charge can be a felony. If your son wrote words on the car when he 'keyed' it, he could also be charged with a grafitti charge, which could result in the suspension of his drivers license until he turns 18. (A.R.S. 28-3320)
He will also be ordered to pay for the damages to the car. Even if someone else is involved, he can be ordered to pay the entire amount, 'jointly and severally' with his co-defendants. This means that to ensure the victim is paid back for all the damages, the defendants have to work out between themselves the porportion of damages they will each pay. But if the other defendant(s) don't pay, then your son has to pay the entire amount.
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