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Florida criminal charge

Placing burning or flaming cross on property of another in Florida

Misdemeanor of the First DegreeCurrent through 2026 Florida legislative session

Placing burning or flaming cross on property of another is a Misdemeanor of the First Degree under Florida criminal law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 876.18. As a Misdemeanor of the First Degree, it is punishable within the statutory sentencing range Florida sets for that offense class. Florida sorts criminal offenses into felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses, each carrying its own penalty range.

Defined by Fla. Stat. § 876.18.

What is the penalty for placing burning or flaming cross on property of another in Florida?

Penalties for Placing burning or flaming cross on property of another
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 1 year (county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2)))discretionaryFla. Stat. § 775.082
Fineup to $1,000 (or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g)))discretionaryFla. Stat. § 775.082

Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).

Common questions about placing burning or flaming cross on property of another in Florida

Is placing burning or flaming cross on property of another a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

Placing burning or flaming cross on property of another is a Misdemeanor of the First Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 876.18.

What are the penalties for placing burning or flaming cross on property of another in Florida?

As a Misdemeanor of the First Degree, placing burning or flaming cross on property of another carries up to 1 year (statutory maximum; the Criminal Punishment Code scoresheet (s. 921.0024) sets the lowest permissible sentence) of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000 (statutory ceiling under s. 775.083; the alternatives in s. 775.083(1)(f)-(g) may exceed it) under Fla. Stat. § 775.082 (current (2025 Florida Statutes)).

Which Florida statute covers placing burning or flaming cross on property of another?

Placing burning or flaming cross on property of another is governed by Fla. Stat. § 876.18 (Placing burning or flaming cross on property of another).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.