Mayhem is a felony offense in California
When you think of “mayhem,” you may equate it with the word mischief, or even pandemonium. For examples if you go shopping on Black Friday, you may describe the mall parking lot as “complete mayhem.” Yet when it comes to criminal law, mayhem has a completely different meaning.
According to a criminal defense lawyer in Orange County, CA, mayhem is a violent felony crime that generally involves seriously injuring another person. Specifically, mayhem may be charged when a person unlawfully or maliciously:
- Removes a part of someone’s body;
- Disables or makes useless a part of someone’s body, in a way that is more than slight or temporary;
- Permanently disfigures someone;
- Cuts or disables someone’s tongue;
- Slits someone’s nose, ear or lip; or
- Puts out someone’s eye, or injures someone’s eye in a way that makes the eye useless for the purpose of ordinary sight.
In other words, mayhem isn’t about a crowded parking lot or even kids acting wild. It is a serious, violent crime. The charge may be elevated to aggravated mayhem if they intentionally caused a permanent disability or disfigurement, or causes them to be deprived of a limb, organ or murder.
The distinction between the two crimes is the intent of the defendant. A person doesn’t need to have the specific intent to cause a serious injury to someone else to be charged with simple mayhem. However, aggravated mayhem involves the specific intent to cause that type of injury.
Both simple and aggravated mayhem are felony crimes. They are also considered violent felonies, which means that they could as a “strike” for purposes of California’s Three Strikes Law. If you are convicted of simple mayhem, you may be sentenced to between 2 and 8 years in California State Prison and a fine of $10,000. This sentence may be enhanced by 1 to 2 years if the alleged victim is 65 or older, under the age of 14, blind or deaf, developmentally disabled, or if they are a paraplegic or quadriplegic. The sentence for aggravated mayhem is life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Given the serious nature of a mayhem charge, it is critical to work with a criminal defense lawyer in Orange County, CA who understands the law and who can put together a strong defense to the charges against you. This may include arguing that you did not act intentionally or maliciously, that you were acting in self defense or defense of others, or even that you were falsely accused. The specific defense will depend on the facts of your case.
If you have been charged with mayhem or a related crime, such as torture, the Chambers Law Firm will aggressively defend you. We will work hard to protect your rights and your freedom, and will help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation with a criminal defense lawyer in Orange County, CA, contact us at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com.
