§ 73-17-6. Liability for damages

A. All persons and public corporations, shall be liable for damages done to works of the district by themselves, their agents, their employees or by their livestock. Any person guilty of wilful damage shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not to exceed two hundred ($200) dollars and costs and shall be liable for all damages and costs. The board shall have authority to repair such damage at the expense of the person or public corporation causing the same.

B. In all cases declared misdemeanors by this act, any justice of the peace [magistrate] of the county in which the offense is committed shall have jurisdiction thereof, and upon complaint being made as is now required by law, may issue a warrant directed to any proper officer of his county, for the arrest of any person so charged with any such misdemeanor, and upon the arrest of such person, the justice of the peace [magistrate] before whom such person is brought for trial shall hear and determine the cause, and if he finds the accused guilty, shall assess the fine as prescribed in this act.