Maybe so in LibLand, but here, "respect for his person" would have included a good, old-fashioned Texas @$$-kickin'!
The up-side of letting the guy do more damage is that the crime charged increases with higher dollar damages. In this case, it is a class B felony.
RCW 9A.48.070
Malicious mischief in the first degree.
(1) A person is guilty of malicious mischief in the first degree if he knowingly and maliciously:
(a) Causes physical damage to the property of another in an amount exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars;
(b) Causes an interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public by physically damaging or tampering with an emergency vehicle or property of the state, a political subdivision thereof, or a public utility or mode of public transportation, power, or communication; or
(c) Causes an impairment of the safety, efficiency, or operation of an aircraft by physically damaging or tampering with the aircraft or aircraft equipment, fuel, lubricant, or parts.
(2) Malicious mischief in the first degree is a class B felony.