Los Angeles Criminal Lawyer California Felony Criminal Defense Attorney Law Offices of Stephen G. Rodriguez Los Angeles

CALIFORNIA THEFT CRIME DEFENSE

Defense for Grand Theft Charges • Petty Theft
Identity Theft • Shoplifting • Larceny

Los Angeles Theft Crime Attorney
California Theft Defense Lawyer

Theft crimes include any of the following instances of stolen property:

Auto Theft
Burglary
Embezzlement
Extortion
Fraud
Grand Theft

Identity Theft
Larceny
Petty Theft/Shoplifting
Robbery
Receiving Stolen Property

Examples of Theft Crimes:

Larceny
Larceny is the taking and carrying away the "tangible personal property of another by trespass with intent to permanently deprive the person of his interest in the property." Thus, real estate, services and other intangible "properties" cannot be objects of larceny.

Burglary
Burglary is illegally breaking into someone else's property with a plan or intention of stealing something from that property. The seriousness of the crime can depend on when and where the crime occurred, whether or not people were present when the crime was committed, and the use (or non-use) of a weapon.

Embezzlement
Embezzlement is a serious theft crime carried out by employees who are familiar with the business and exploit that knowledge for illegally taking money. The significant difference between embezzlement and other theft crimes is that embezzled property is legally possessed or accessed by the person doing the embezzling.

A Theft Charge Can Carry Severe Penalties.
In California, theft crime charges can range from a minor shoplifting charge (for stealing something valued under $400) to grand theft, which can be charged as a felony and could require a state prison sentence.

There is no such thing as a “simple” theft crime. It all depends on the nature of the crime, including the value of the property taken, any prior related theft convictions, or other circumstances. For example, a theft crime involving the Internet crosses state lines and is therefore charged as a federal crime in addition to a state crime.

California Law—Petty Theft
In most cases, first offenses such as shoplifting are punishable by a small fine and 1 to 3 years of informal probation. In some cases, a first offense can be reduced to an infraction, thus eliminating any criminal record.

A second or third theft/shoplifting offense is a much more serious matter because of the consequences. It can be charged as Felony Petty Theft (also called petty theft with a prior) and is punishable by a year in county jail or even 16 months in state prison.

California Law—Grand Theft
When a person steals goods worth over $400 or money exceeding $400, it is a serious offense and can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

With Grand Theft, you could be facing any number of penalties, including:

County jail time 16 months in state prison.
Probation or parole
Restitution (paying back victims for their loss)
Court-ordered counseling
Fines
Community Service or CalTrans (freeway clean-up)

Avoid Theft Charges or Conviction
If you have been arrested or accused of a theft crime, it is important to retain an attorney with experience in theft cases in order to get a favorable result. There’s no doubt that an attorney who is not as familiar with the nuances of various theft laws may miss an important opportunity for dropped or reduced charges, or even acquittal.

The Right Criminal Defense Lawyer Makes A Difference
If you’re charged with a theft crime, you must speak with an experienced defense attorney right away so he/she can properly evaluate your case. Developing a defense strategy early on in the case is an important step prior to discussing settlement or going to trial.

Stephen G. Rodriguez has successfully represented many people charged with theft crimes. He has been able to achieve some excellent results for his clients in cases that at first did not appear defensible. He understands how to prepare a strong defense for theft crimes, and he has the experience to negotiate the best results for your case!

Law Offices of Stephen G. Rodriguez
633 West 5th Street
26th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071

Telephone
(213) 223-2173

Stephen G. Rodrigues & Associates represents clients in the Southern California (CA) region, including Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Orange County, Santa Ana, Fullerton, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura County, Kern County, Bakersfield, San Bernadino, and Riverside County.

Some of the terms that pertain to our practice include but are not limited to: dui, child abuse, identity theft, drunk driving, fraud, domestic violence, grand theft, felony, kidnapping, narcotic, robbery, misdemeanor, restraining order, arrest warrant, theft, hit and run, vandalism, arson, traffic charges, shoplifting, stalking, embezzlement, burglary, extortion, bench warrant, expungement, assault and battery, terrorist threat, sex offenses, solicitation, probation violation, suspended license, carjacking, gun weapon, attempted murder, petty theft, alternative sentencing, lewd conduct, drug possession, clear criminal records, juvenile offense, seal juvenile records, prostitution, rape.