Cleveland Arson Defense Attorney

Defending Against Serious Charges

Being charged with arson can be a disheartening experience. Not only is your reputation on the line, but if convicted, you could face a range of punishments that include hefty fines and lengthy jail sentences. Fortunately, a skilled arson defense attorney can fight these serious criminal charges on your behalf, so it’s critical for you to hire a legal team soon to ensure your rights are protected throughout your criminal case.

You can rest assured that the experienced team at Watson Kuhlman, LLC understands the gravity of arson charges in this state. We are passionate about helping clients navigate all aspects of their cases and getting the best possible outcome. Our law firm works tirelessly to build the best defense strategy possible based on the individual merits of each case, and you’ll see this firsthand when you hire our team.

Simply put, it pays to entrust your legal representation to our attorneys, whether you’re facing arson charges or other criminal allegations in Ohio. If you’re eager to discuss your criminal defense options with a knowledgeable lawyer, call us today at 216-208-7858 to set up your initial consultation.

How Does Ohio Law Define Arson?

If you’re accused of arson in Ohio, this means prosecutors believe you’re guilty of intentionally setting a fire or causing an explosion in order to destroy a building, commercial space, or structure. More specifically, you can be charged with arson if you used a fire or explosion to cause serious physical harm or create a substantial risk of harm to any of the following:

• Someone else’s property without their consent
• Yours or someone else’s property with the intent to defraud
• Someone else’s property with an offer or agreement for hire
• A government building used by the public, such as a school, police station, or courthouse
• Any park, forest, land, preserve, or other property that belongs to you, the government, or someone else, with or without the intent to defraud

Regardless of who owns the property involved, arson is considered a severe offense that carries serious consequences for those found guilty. This is especially the case for arson offenses where the damage caused is valued at over a thousand dollars or one or more people were put at risk of physical harm when an occupied structure was set on fire. At that point, an arson charge can go from a misdemeanor to a felony offense, or even a federal crime if federal property was damaged.

Our attorneys are prepared to represent clients accused of this serious crime and are ready to navigate the complexities of criminal law. We understand the state and federal laws related to varying degrees of arson, including maximum sentences for conviction, as well as the potential defenses that are available to our clients. If you’re facing an arson charge in Ohio, having Watson Kuhlman, LLC on your side is crucial to ensure your rights are protected throughout the entire legal process. Call us today to discuss your legal options.

What Are Ohio’s Arson Laws?

The severity of arson offenses in Ohio varies depending on the intent and degree of the crime. There are different types of arson, with simple arson and aggravated arson being the two main types in this state. It’s essential to understand which criminal offense you’ve been charged with and what the possible penalties could be if you’re convicted of this crime.

Simple arson involves the intentional destruction of an empty structure or building via fire or explosion. It can also involve putting wildlife or others in possible danger – but done so to certain properties and unoccupied structures. This could be a misdemeanor or felony offense, depending on the dollar amount of the damage caused. In general, if you’re accused of causing less than $500 of damage to an unoccupied property, you’re facing a misdemeanor of the first degree. In most other cases, you’re facing a felony charge.

The other type of arson charge in Ohio is aggravated arson. This is the most severe form of this criminal offense, since it typically involves endangering innocent lives or causing death by setting fire to an occupied building or vehicle with malicious intent. As a result, the penalties may include a lengthy prison sentence if proven guilty.

In particular, the penalties for certain arson or aggravated arson charges include:

• Arson with property damage of less than $500: This is a first-degree misdemeanor that can result in up to $1,000 in fines and 180 days in jail
• Arson with over $500 in property damage: This is a fourth-degree felony that can lead to up to $5,000 in fines and six to 18 months in prison
• Arson with an agreement for hire: This is a third-degree felony that can lead to up to $10,000 in fines and one to five years of prison time
• Aggravated arson of occupied structure: This is a second-degree felony charge that can result in up to $15,000 in fines and two to eight years of prison time
• Aggravated arson creating a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another person: This is a first-degree felony that can result in up to $20,000 in fines and three to ten years in prison

You could face even more severe penalties if someone was seriously injured or killed as a result of aggravated arson of an occupied structure. In addition, whether you’re convicted of a fourth-degree felony or second-degree felony charge, you’ll have a serious crime on your criminal record for life. This can make it difficult to get hired, rent a home, or do anything else that requires you to pass a background check in the future. This is why it’s critical for you to seek legal representation to fight back against a felony charge for this type of property crime.

An experienced criminal defense attorney from our law firm will be able to tell you which arson laws apply to your case and which penalties you could end up with if you’re convicted of one or more arson charges in Ohio. We’ll also provide you with advice on how best to defend against charges related to all degrees of arson cases in order to ensure justice is served efficiently and effectively under the law. Call our Cleveland law office today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted criminal defense attorney.

How Will Prosecutors Try to Prove You’re Guilty of Arson?

Arson can be a complicated crime to prove, as it requires careful examination of the evidence and strong legal arguments. Unfortunately for anyone accused of arson or aggravated arson, an experienced prosecution team knows how to look for evidence sufficient to prove guilt. This is why you need a criminal defense attorney on your side to show why any evidence presented against you in court is inaccurate.

One example of what prosecutors must prove during an arson case in Ohio is that the accused had malicious intent to damage or destroy a structure or property with fire or explosives. They can attempt to do this by gathering eyewitness testimony about any suspicious activity observed prior to the fire, telltale signs of accelerants at the scene, and even surveillance footage showing someone planting devices that could have caused the blaze.

Prosecutors may also use circumstantial evidence to achieve a conviction for arson offenses, such as tracking down a motive for starting a fire. This could include insurance fraud or any financial links between suspects and those who may have benefitted from a burning building.

During an arson or aggravated arson case in the Cleveland area, the prosecution will likely also investigate whether there were any signs of forced entry into the property involved in the crime. This can help show whether someone was present before and after the fire began.

In addition, forensic investigators can use laboratory tests to examine materials found at the crime scene and determine what might have been used as an accelerant during an arson attack. By collecting samples from items such as clothing fibers, furniture fabric, and other combustible materials at the scene of a fire, they can test them for traces of chemicals that were used in order to ignite or sustain it.

You can count on experienced prosecutors to do their job to the best of their ability, which could lead to a conviction for a serious property crime. This is why you need to fight back by hiring a lawyer who will work hard to protect you from charges involving arson offenses. Our Cleveland area lawyers know which elements of arson prosecutors must prove in court, and we know how to challenge their evidence to avoid conviction or reduce your charges. Contact us today to learn how we’ll investigate your case and fight for you in court to help you avoid the potential consequences of a criminal conviction.

How Can a Cleveland Arson Defense Attorney Help with Your Ohio Arson Case?

At Watson Kuhlman, LLC, we know it can be shocking to realize you’re facing arson allegations, especially felony charges. Being accused of creating a substantial risk of serious physical harm to someone’s property can have a significant impact on your life, since a conviction can result in prison time and hefty fines. That’s why it’s essential to hire an Ohio lawyer who will carefully examine the circumstances surrounding your alleged crime and strive to prove to the court that you’re not guilty.

When you hire our law firm, we’ll develop strategies to ensure you receive fair proceedings and that all relevant laws are taken into consideration. We are ready to provide advice on legal options that may reduce or eliminate penalties associated with this serious criminal charge. From the moment we take on your case, we will set up a strategy to help your defense, seeking all evidence and witnesses to argue your case for the best possible outcome.

By hiring the attorneys at Watson Kuhlman, LLC, our clients can rest assured that their rights will be protected. Call our office today at 216-208-7858 to schedule your initial consultation with our compassionate attorneys.