It’s not uncommon to find one or more cruise ship passengers with outstanding warrants when a ship returns stateside. They’re often flabbergasted when the CBP pulls them aside and holds them for the local cops so they can be extradited to whatever State has issued the warrant. In the case of serious offenders, there’s a knock on their door before any passengers are allowed down the gangway.
Just tell the truth on your application. You will know what you have to do then.It can be worked out somehow unless the evaluator is a total prick. Scratching a car is a Felony? Did more damage with an errant wire wheel as an AB.
Destruction of property. Whether or not it’s a felony is usually based on the cost of the damage. In many states it’s $1,000, but could be lower in others.
A buddy of mine had a TS clearance, plus a long family record of Mafia involvement and a brother who was a serial rapist. He was up front about it on the background investigations and never had a real problem.
The problem is we are not sure what the truth is. The OP might be a convicted felon or he might have got diverted outside the court system with no criminal record at all. A note from a lawyer that tells exactly what the truth is could be well worth an hour of lawyer time.
(It does seem like utter bullshit to me that a damaged car is a felony BTW)