Who does not like a clever April Fools joke? It is a day beloved by pranksters who spend the remaining 364 days of the year trying to dream up something to top the stunt they pulled the year before. But any action that ends up destroying property or injuring someone can be costly, both monetarily and legally.

On April 1, 2011, a man entered a Wal-Mart bathroom in Elkton, Maryland. He needed the assistance of rescue workers to leave, since someone had put superglue all over the seat beforehand. The seat had to be removed at the hospital. If the perpetrator is discovered, he or she could get charged with second-degree assault. In Utah, a second-degree felony assault conviction makes you eligible for up to 15 years in jail and a possible fine of $10,000.

Criminal mischief — or vandalism — is the intentional destruction of private or public property and includes:

• Graffiti
• Trespassing
• Destroying school or public property
• Vandalism

While the penalties for these crimes are not as serious as assault charges, you may be required to pay for damages you caused. This can run more than $5,000 for a second-degree criminal mischief conviction. Even more serious, however, are the negative repercussions of having a felony conviction on your criminal record. You might be turned down for a job or housing.

That is why it is important to get in touch with a criminal defense attorney with a solid record of getting charges reduced or dropped. A bad joke should not have to haunt you for the rest of your life.