By Jules Lindgren
BYU student Trevor Weed is applying to 'Teach for America,' a highly competitive teacher recruitment program. As part of the application, he has to disclose his criminal record -- which includes a class B misdemeanor for criminal mischief.
Criminal mischief, as defined in the Utah Criminal Code, includes intentionally damaging, defacing or destroying public or private property. Depending on the property loss, penalties range from a class B misdemeanor to a third degree felony, a charge that can include up to five years in jail.
Last October Weed was carving pumpkins on a date, when he realized one of the jack-o-laterns bore a striking resemblance to one of his friends.
'It didn''t look exactly like him, but it was close enough that he would recognize himself,' said Weed, a 23-year-old health science major from Boise, Idaho.
Deciding the jack-o-lantern would make a good prank, Weed and his friends stuffed it with newspaper and poured lighter fluid over it. Then, while one of them rang the friend''s doorbell, Weed lit the pumpkin on fire.
Suffice it to say, Weed got caught. After an entourage of public safety vehicles -- three police cars, two fire trucks and an ambulance -- arrived, Weed was charged with a class B misdemeanor.
Weed said before playing the prank, he''d had a feeling lighting the pumpkin on fire was not a good idea.
'But the premonition that this wasn''t a good idea was a lot quieter than the premonition that it was going to be awesome,' he said.
There is a way for the conviction to be expunged from his record, but Weed says he has neither the time nor the means to do it right now.
Even though the prank may affect whether or not he gets into Teach America, Weed said he doesn''t really regret it.
'I regret that as a 22-year-old returned missionary I didn''t have the common sense not to light a fire on University Avenue, but I can''t say I wouldn''t do it again,' he said.
Capt. Rick Healy of the Provo Police Department said while there are some significant instances of criminal mischief, he sees a lot of youth involved in more minor infractions like graffiti.
Criminal mischief also includes such infractions as propelling any object at a transportation vehicle ? including paintballs, Airsof pellets, BBs or things like water balloons and snowballs.
Criminal mischief is not usually as spectacular as a burning pumpkin. Lt. Doug Edwards of the Orem Police Department said the most common problems he sees are gang graffiti, broken windows and drive-by paintballings.
'We''re concerned about it.' Edwards said. 'We get between two and five reports every day of criminal mischief.'
He said that most of the time criminal mischief is intentional, although some portion of it is just 'kids being stupid.'
'I don''t know that they realize the cost involved, and the hassle and frustration it is to business owners and homeowners,' Edwards said, 'It''s very maddening, there''s not much to smile about.'
Edwards draws the line distinguishing between kids messing around and criminal mischief at property damage. If he catches students out toilet-papering the neighbors he''ll make them clean it up rather than charge them with a crime.
But, he said, that''s different than when he catches them spray-painting the neighbor''s yard.
The next time plans for pranks start floating around the apartment, remember -- it could be illegal.