Theft is general term used to describe a range of crimes in which a person intentionally removed or took property belonging to another individual without his or her permission. Shoplifting, burglary, petit larceny, grand larceny, and armed robbery are all various types of theft crimes. The penalties for theft crimes vary widely, based upon the type of crime committed, whether the person who committed the crime has a prior record, the monetary value of the property taken and whether a weapon or violence was involved.
Generally, shoplifting and petit larceny charges are filed as Class A misdemeanors. A conviction for this type of theft crime can mean up to a year in jail and fines up to $1000. If there are no prior felony convictions, and you are charged with a Class E felony for theft, the penalties upon conviction can include up to 4 years in prison and fines up to $5000. A Class D felony conviction can result in up to 7 years in prison and up to $5000 in fines (or twice the amount you gained by committing the theft).
If you are convicted of a theft crime that is filed as a Class C felony, you will be facing up to 15 years in prison, in addition to the same fines and penalties as a Class D felony. A Class B felony conviction, such as in a case of grand larceny charges, can lead to a maximum of 25 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. Additional penalties may be imposed if you have had a prior conviction, or other crimes were committed during the commission of the theft. Penalties including probation, community service, and restitution are all assigned at the discretion of the judge and/or jury.
if you have been arrested and charged with theft in New York City, you owe it to yourself to contact Law Offices of Daniel A. Hochheiser right away. Ensuring you are protected by legal representation from a New York City criminal defense attorney increases the chances of getting the charges against you reduced, dismissed or getting an acquittal at trial. With 80 years of combined experience practicing criminal law, and one of the firm's lead attorneys having prior experience working as a prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, you will have the highest qualify, professional defense counsel on your side in theft crime cases.
Contact the firm to schedule an appointment to discuss your legal situation.