Theft Lawyer

Being accused of taking property that does not belong to you or using services without properly paying for them can result in severe criminal charges across the United States. Even misdemeanor theft, also known as larceny, can substantially damage your professional and personal reputation. More severe offenses can result in years of prison time and fines that cost far greater than the value of the alleged theft.

Whether this is your first time facing criminal charges or you have an existing record, representation from a knowledgeable private defense attorney could make a huge difference in how your current case plays out and what effects it has on your life. With a seasoned theft lawyer on your side, you will have far better chances of securing a positive case result than you would ever have on your own or with just a public defender representing you.

Defining “Larceny” as a Criminal Offense

While the exact verbiage changes from state to state, the basic legal definition of “theft” as a criminal offense is more or less the same nationwide. In general, someone can be convicted of theft if all of the following conditions are met:

• They took possession of property belonging to someone else
• They took the property with the intent of depriving the owner of its benefits or benefiting from it themselves
• They did not have the property owner’s permission to take the property or to use it for the specific purpose(s) they did
• They did not have lawful authority to take the property with or without the owner’s consent

Theft of services generally entails failing to pay the listed price or otherwise engaging in fraud or deceit to obtain a specific service. Likewise, engaging in fraud to unlawfully take possession of property or not pay the full price for it usually constitutes theft just as much as physically removing that property from the owner’s possession. To reiterate, though, each state takes a slightly different approach to this offense, so it is always worth discussing a specific charge with a seasoned theft defense attorney.

How States Typically Differentiate Between Theft Offenses

Most of the time, the difference between levels or “degrees” of theft offenses—and the corresponding consequences, someone may face upon conviction—relies on the sum of the value of money, goods, and services allegedly taken. Different states set different dividing lines and even have different numbers of “degrees” for theft charges, but generally speaking, theft of more than $1,500 is often treated as a felony, while theft of less than $1,500 is usually treated as a misdemeanor.

However, certain types of theft are always treated as felonies no matter what financial value the goods or services in question had—for example, theft of a firearm, or theft accomplished through any form of extortion. A qualified theft lawyer could go into more specific detail about how a particular state defines various types and levels of theft during a private consultation.

Contact a Seasoned Theft Attorney for Assistance

Regardless of exactly how it is defined in the applicable penal code, a theft charge is always a serious matter that warrants a robust defense strategy. That said, if you try to defend yourself or rely on an overworked public defender to do it for you, you are unfortunately likely to end up with an unfavorable case result and potentially life-altering criminal penalties as well.

Working closely with a capable theft lawyer can be vital to ensuring you have the best chances possible of getting the positive resolution you want from your legal proceedings. Call today to learn more.