Desecration Of Church > $1000
Legal Definition
A person commits desecration of a church or other place of worship when they willfully damage, deface, or destroy property belonging to or located within a church, synagogue, mosque, or similar religious building. The offense is classified by the value of the damage caused. When the damage exceeds $1,000, the offense is elevated to a felony.
Possible Punishment
Basic sentence of 18 months imprisonment; fine up to $5,000. A mandatory period of parole follows release. The offense may also carry restitution obligations to the religious institution for the full amount of damage caused.
Local Context
Desecration of a church or place of worship causing damage of $1,000 or less is a misdemeanor. The statute reflects heightened protection for religious property and places of worship. The value threshold is measured by the cost of repair or replacement of the damaged property.
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 (1)
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.