Anyone facing allegations of a theft crime needs a local criminal attorney to review the case and discuss any defenses available. An experienced felony theft lawyer can explain the local court process and your constitutional rights.
Felony theft convictions can carry serious criminal penalties and social stigma. A criminal lawyer can fight to get the charge reduced to a misdemeanor and help restore your civil rights.
Theft Charges
Felony theft charges are serious offenses that carry substantial criminal penalties and a social stigma. Individuals who are convicted of felony theft crimes often have difficulty finding jobs, renting apartments or returning to school. They also have difficulty with civil rights such as voting, obtaining credit and loans and getting custody of their children. It is important to hire a felony theft attorney right away in order to minimize the damage.
Generally speaking the more expensive the item that is stolen, the more serious the crime and the higher the punishment will be. However, there are also a number of aggravated factors that can increase the severity of the charge such as prior criminal history, the type of property taken and whether it involved an occupied structure or force. In some cases it is possible to get a felony theft charge reduced to a misdemeanor with the help of a qualified criminal defense lawyer. This is the best way to avoid a conviction and save yourself from the lifelong consequences of a felony on your record.
Penalties
The penalties for theft crimes vary depending on the amount and type of property stolen. Penalties for felony theft may include prison sentences, fines, and other civil punishments. A criminal record can have lasting consequences, including making it difficult to find a job or housing, and it may impact certain civil rights and privileges. A Felony theft lawyer could use their knowledge of applicable laws and defenses to help clients avoid these penalties or get them reduced as much as possible.
Most theft crimes are considered crimes of moral turpitude, which means they can have significant impacts on a former convict’s ability to obtain employment and to rent or buy a home. They can also have a significant impact on immigration status, particularly for foreign nationals. Aggravating factors, such as prior convictions and certain circumstances of the crime, can increase punishments for theft offenses. Theft crimes can also lead to a loss of voting rights and the right to own firearms.
Defenses
A knowledgeable criminal lawyer could combine their extensive legal knowledge and experience with the facts of your case to provide you with a strong defense.
Theft charges can carry severe penalties, including jail time and a permanent record. A conviction can also limit your ability to find a job, rent an apartment, get a loan, and access certain civil liberties and privileges.
To be charged with a felony, the prosecutor must prove that you stole property with intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. Your attorney can argue that the government has not met its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Another possible defense is that the accused was under duress or coercion at the time of the theft. This includes threats or blackmail, which can make the crime a felony. You can also use the defense of consent, which means you were given permission to take the item in question. You can also invoke the defense of entrapment, which claims law enforcement lured you into the theft.
Expungement
Individuals who have been convicted of certain types of theft crimes may be eligible to have their records expunged. This process involves filing a petition to seal and remove records relating to an arrest, indictment, trial, or conviction from the public record. The process varies by jurisdiction, but individuals must prove that they have remained law-abiding since the time of their arrest or conviction in order to qualify for expungement.
Felony theft is defined as wrongfully taking or using someone else’s property without their permission. The value of the property is a major factor in determining how serious the crime is and what punishment, if any, will be imposed.
A felony charge can prevent an individual from getting a good job or going to school, even if they have since turned their life around. A Felony theft lawyer can work on their client’s case to try to get the charges reduced or dismissed. They can also assist in filing a petition for expungement.
