Theft Offenses
A theft crime is the taking of property without
consent. Depending on the amount of the theft,
you can be charged with misdemeanor petty theft
if the value is below $400, or a felony if the
value is above $400. Sometimes, if you hire an
attorney quickly after your arrest or citation
for petty theft from a retail store, you can
have the charge reduced to an infraction. An
attorney can also help you negotiate any civil
penalties you must pay a retail store in
addition to assisting you with the criminal case
in court.
Most thefts over $400 in value are going to
filed as a felony. The higher the value of the
theft, the more potential punishment you could
receive. Thefts over $65,000, $200,000 or $1.3
million dollars can increase any prison term by
a year at each threshold. However, Todd Melnik
has successfully defended many persons who
either never went to prison, or who received
probationary sentences, even for large thefts.
Be awarethat if you have a prior theft
conviction and you are charged again with
another theft, you can face felony charges no
matter how small the value of the item taken
without consent. This is called a petty theft
with a prior charge and will be filed as a
felony.
Theft includes the crimes commonly known as:
- Shoplifting
- First degree burglary is theft from a
residential dwelling even if no one is currently
living there. Second degree burglary is theft
from a commercial establishment, such as Best
Buy
- Embezzlement is taking funds entrusted to
you
- Vehicular theft can be charged as grand
theft auto or as joyriding
- Credit card fraud is the use of another's
access card
- Robbery - theft committed by force
- Carjacking - theft of an occupied vehicle.
- Theft of services includes cable TV,
electricity and other municipal services
- Identity theft - mere possession of another
person's identifying information regardless of
whether you applied for credit in a person's
name is a felony.
Thefts that count as Strikes
- First degree burglary
- Robbery
- Carjacking
Theft crime charges and legal penalties will
depend upon the type of theft crime committed and
the value of the property stolen. If the defendant
is a repeat offender, he/she may be subject to
enhanced criminal charges and sentencing. Certain
crimes carry presumptive state prison sentences.
Theft charges can sometimes be the result of a
mistake or misunderstanding. Even if the alleged
theft was intentional, an experienced criminal
attorney can minimize the effect a theft conviction
can have on a person’s life and employment. If you
have been charged with any type of theft crime, contact
Mr. Melnik now. Don't let a mistake today ruin your
life tomorrow. Mr. Melnik is quite experienced
handling theft cases, and can often minimize the
charges and consequences BEFORE they get filed. If
you are suspected of theft, call him right away. You
can speak to Mr. Melnik personally if you call
818-995-7777.
|
