Spratt v. State

BLACKWELL, Judge.

While the crime of malicious destruction of property has been traditionally recognized at common law as one criminal offense, 1 Maryland has codified the offense so that for many purposes it is treated as two separate crimes based upon the value of the property destroyed. 2 This gradation became effective as of July 1, 1985. Under the new statutory scheme, it is the responsibility of the State to specify and prove the value of the property destroyed to establish the proper classification of the offense. It is essential for the trier of fact to determine value where it is…