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Columbus Arson and Aggravated Arson Attorneys

Facing Arson Charges in Ohio? Call LHA Right Away. Free Consults: (614) 500-3836.

To be charged with aggravated arson, you must have set something on fire or exploded something, with any of the following consequences:

  • You created a serious risk of physical harm to anyone other than yourself
  • You damaged a structure (building, bridge, etc.) where people are likely inside
  • You hired or recruited someone to carry out the act, and created a serious risk of damage to an occupied structure

Depending on the nature of the allegations, aggravated arson penalties can range from a second degree felony, punishable by up to 8 years in prison to a first degree felony punishable by up to 11 years in prison.

If you are convicted of aggravated arson, additional potential issues include:

  • Maintaining your current employment
  • Licensure issues in some professions
  • Difficulty getting a good job in the future
  • Difficulty and possible denial in immigration and naturalization proceedings

Simply put, if you are convicted of aggravated arson, it will be on your criminal background for the rest of your life. No matter what the circumstances were in your case, you run the risk of being considered someone who set fire to and destroyed someone else’s property. Therefore, it is critical that you to give your aggravated arson charge the level of importance it deserves.

The Columbus arson and aggravated arson attorneys at LHA take an aggressive and comprehensive approach when representing clients charged with aggravated arson. First and foremost, we will figure out what mistakes the police made, whether your arrest was lawful, whether there were issues with the collection, storage and testing of evidence and what other legal issues can be raised on your behalf.

We do this by requesting discovery from the prosecutor. The discovery will generally consist of police reports, additional investigative notes, lab reports and potentially video or audio. As our client, you will receive a copy of everything received from the prosecutor for your review

Based on the legal weaknesses in the State of Ohio’s case and any other mitigating factors, we will negotiate the best possible plea available with the prosecutor for you to consider in resolving your case.

If your case cannot be resolved satisfactorily with a plea, it would then proceed to a motion hearing (a hearing where the judge issues a ruling on an evidentiary issue) or a trial to the judge or jury, depending on the circumstances.

For nearly ten years, our Columbus arson and aggravated arson attorneys has successfully represented clients charged with criminal offenses from minor misdemeanors to first degree felonies. That extensive previous experience will enable us to better help you.

Are you in trouble? Contact our Columbus arson and aggravated arson attorneys.

If you’ve been charged with aggravated arson, it’s important to know what you’re up against. If you have any questions left unanswered by this page, or if you need a competent, experienced Columbus arson and aggravated arson attorney to fight for you in court, please contact us at (614) 500-3836 or via email at advice@columbuscriminalattorney.com.

Penalties

Created a serious risk of harm to someone else or hired or recruited someone else to create a serious risk of damage to an occupied structure
This is a felony of the first degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of three to 11 years
  • A fine of $10,000 to $20,000
Damaged a structure where people are likely inside
This is a felony of the second degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of two to eight years
  • A fine of $7,500 to $15,000

Frequently Asked Questions

What are penalties for juveniles like?
If it’s your first offense of this kind and no people were at risk of harm, you’ll probably be assigned to a program that treats fire-starting behavior. If you’re a repeat offender, you may be sentenced to confinement in a juvenile hall.

Resources

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