Burning down property that isn't yours could land you in serious trouble with the law. If you are charged with arson, there are three possible defenses you may be able to take to prove your innocence.  To help you better understand what it is that you are dealing with and what your lawyer is going to be able to do for you, check out some possible defenses used in cases like yours.

You didn't set it on fire on purpose.

One of the main defenses that many people used when charged with arson is that they didn't set the property on fire on purpose. For example, a campfire that spiraled out of control could constitute accidental burning. By having witnesses in the area who can testify that it was an accident, you might be able to use this as your first line of defense. While accidents do happen, you are going to need more than just your word to be able to make this defense work for you.

You were asked to burn the property.

Another defense commonly used in an arson case is that you were asked to burn the property down. For example, if your neighbor asked you to burn down an old shed that has been falling apart for years, you cannot be charged with arson. You would need to get a statement from your neighbor that says that they asked you to burn the property down for them as a way of getting rid of the mess.

It was your property to burn.

If you are outside burning down your own shed or other piece of property, you cannot be charged with arson. You might need to be able to provide some type of proof that shows that the property was indeed yours to begin with. Whether it be a store receipt or proof that the property you burned down was located on your own parcel of land, you have to be able to give the judge something that shows that you didn't go out and cause damage to someone else's belongings and that it was in fact your own effects.

It is more important than ever that you understand the rules and regulations of burning of property because they just may borderline on arson and could land you in serious trouble with the law for doing something you didn't understand in the first place. Check out http://www.darksidelawyers.com for more information.