Theft Crime Lawyer in Century City
Woodland Hills Criminal Defense Attorney
Theft constitutes the crime of taking the property of another person without the consent to do so. Theft can lead to a number of legal consequences. There are many reasons that miscommunications can occur and a person may be charged for theft. Many criminal charges often present more than meets the eye after further investigation takes place. At Taub & Taub, P.C., our Century City criminal defense lawyer is a former prosecutor and can begin investigating charges to locate any weak points. Speak with us immediately after you are charged so that we can begin developing a defense plan.
Types of Theft and Penalties
There are a number of crimes that fall under the term of theft crimes for the state of California.
Petty Theft – Petty theft is charged as a misdemeanor, unless previously convicted of theft. In this case, the defendant may be charged with a felony. Penal Code sections 486, 487 and 488, define petty theft as taking the property of another up to a value of $950. A common type of petty theft is shoplifting.
For a first time conviction, the penalties can reach up to six months in jail or a fine of $1,000. Petty theft with a prior is a "wobbler," so it may be considered a misdemeanor or a felony. A misdemeanor for it can lead to up to a year in jail. A felony for petty theft with a prior can lead to as much as three years in prison.
Grand Theft – This crime is committed when the value that is taken rises above $950. It can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the details of the crime. A misdemeanor can lead to up to a year in the county jail, while a felony can lead to a maximum of three years behind bars. When a firearm is involved in a crime of grand theft, it will be automatically increased to a felony.
Burglary – Burglary involves entering into a structure for the purpose of committing a theft or any felony. If this takes place in a home or place where people live, then it will be considered a strike under the Three Strikes Laws of the state.
Robbery – Robbery is taking the property of another person through threats or violence. A conviction will be counted as a strike. If a vehicle is stolen, regardless of its worth, it will be considered grand theft auto. If force or threats are used when taking the vehicle, then this is considered carjacking.
Theft & Immigration – Theft is often considered to be a crime of moral turpitude, which is doing something that is against the society's standard of morals and justice. Crimes that fall into this category may be reason that those accused are denied certain licenses or certifications, hindering their careers. The penalties of a conviction are more than just the fines and probation. They can influence many aspects of your life if you are found guilty, from social aspects to your job. We want to reduce these effects as much as possible and we will work tirelessly to have your charges reduced or fully dropped.
Dismissal of or Sealing a Theft Record
In California it is possible to have a record dismissed or sealed. This can be a great benefit for those that have had to continually endure the repercussions of the conviction, even after they have served their sentence. A theft crime may still turn up in a background check though and an employer will be able to view these details when they are considering a person to hire. Many of them are likely to avoid those that have a criminal record and they may choose someone less qualified above those with a conviction. People make mistakes and if a person has served the time and has moved on from the circumstances of his or her theft conviction, he or she should be able to be free and not be haunted by that episode for the rest of his or her life. Unfortunately, others may not always let them. While having the record dismissed or sealed serves as a great choice for many, oftentimes, the best thing to do is fight the charges from the start to avoid the conviction in the first place.