Speak Up! - View Question #214

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It depends. If the ketchup was not yours, you can be charged with misdemeanor theft. (A.R.S. § 13-1802) Did you have permission to be in the room at the desk? If not, you could be charged with trespass. (A.R.S. § 13-1504). Squirting the ketchup could be construed as graffiti (A.R.S. § 13-1604) or criminal damage (A.R.S. § 13-1602). Had you done this before to the same persons? It could be charged as harassment.(A.R.S. § 13-2921)

Potential consequences for a juvenile range from a fine ($300 to $1000) to time in the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. (A.R.S. § 8-341) Also, if the ketcup caused any damage to the deck, you would have to pay to restore it. You could also have to pay the cost to do clean up! Juvenile court does not have mandatory sentencing, so the judge can be very creative. If you are found delinquent for graffiti and some criminal damage charges, you could lose your driver's license. (A.R.S. § 28-3320) The bottom line is, it depends on how the prosecutor charges the case and what the judge feels is an appropriate consequence.