Arson Under$250
Legal Definition
A person commits arson when they willfully and maliciously damage real or personal property by starting a fire or causing an explosion. When the damage to the property is valued at less than $250, the offense is classified at the lowest arson level. The statute requires proof of intentional ignition and resulting damage, regardless of whether the property belonged to the defendant or another person.
Possible Punishment
Up to 6 months in county jail and a fine of up to $500. New Mexico's arson statute grades the offense by the value of property damage, with arson causing damage under $250 treated as a petty misdemeanor.
Local Context
Arson is graded by damage amount under § 30-17-5 NMSA: under $250 (petty misdemeanor), $250–$499.99 (misdemeanor), $500–$2,499.99 (fourth degree felony), $2,500–$19,999.99 (third degree felony), and $20,000 or more (second degree felony). Separate, more serious arson statutes apply when the fire endangers human life or targets occupied structures (§ 30-17-6, § 30-17-7).
Property-Crime Cases in Doña Ana County
Property charges in New Mexico scale with dollar value and circumstances. The same shoplifting conduct can be a petty misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of what was taken, and burglary escalates sharply when the structure is a home or someone is inside. That is why our charge database lists several versions of larceny and burglary with different classifications.
Property cases also drive a large share of repeat bookings: failure to appear on an older larceny case frequently brings someone back into the detention center on a bench warrant alongside any new charge.
Related Guides
Misdemeanor vs. Felony in New Mexico: Sentences, Courts, and Consequences
How New Mexico separates petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and felony degrees: sentence ranges, jail vs. prison, habitual enhancements, and collateral costs.
Bench Warrants and Failure to Appear in New Mexico: How a Missed Court Date Becomes a Booking
What a bench warrant is, how it differs from an arrest warrant, why FTA bookings fill the Doña Ana County jail log, and how to clear a warrant before arrest.
Recent Arrests for This Charge (2)
Information provided for general reference. Statutory text is summarized and may not reflect the most recent amendments. All persons listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.