- Theft
- Burglary
- Commercial burglary
- Possession of burglary tools
- Grand theft
- Petty theft
- Trespassing
- Commercial trespassing
- Possessing or receiving stolen property
- Vandalism
- Arson
- Forgery
Depending on the offense, you could receive misdemeanor or felony charges for a property crime in California. The severity of the charges will depend on many factors, such as the value of the property that was stolen, the methods you used to steal the property, or a prior conviction for property crimes. For instance, theft of property valued at less than $950 is considered petty theft in California and is usually a misdemeanor offense. Theft of property valued at; more than $950 is Grand Theft, which is a felony in the state of California.
Penalties for Property Crimes in California
The penalties for property crimes in California vary according to the charges. A conviction for either misdemeanor or felony property charges in California could result in jail time, fines, probation, restitution. and community service. Depending on the circumstances, say if someone was injured or killed as a result of your criminal actions, the charges against you could be bumped up. In a worst-case scenario, you could potentially be sentenced to life in prison for some types of property crimes.
In addition, the conviction will permanently appear on your public record. This could make it difficult to find a job, start a business, or attend the school of your choice.
Legal Defenses for Property Crimes
Property theft charges aren’t to be taken lightly. If you’ve been charged with a property crime in Orange County, CA, it’s important to take immediate steps to protect your rights.
Contact the law office of Orange County, CA property crime attorney Jim Tanizaki without delay. Jim Tanizaki is a former Orange County DA turned criminal defense attorney. He knows the strategies the prosecution team will use to get their conviction. You may not know it, but there are many defense tactics that could be used to get the charges against you reduced or even dropped:
- You didn’t intend to take or damage someone’s property
- You believed the property belonged to you
- You had permission from the owner to take the property
- You’ve been falsely accused/mistaken identity
- Mental illness or intoxication
- The evidence was obtained illegally
Don’t wait too long to seek legal representation. The sooner your attorney gets to examine the evidence the state has against you, the better your chances of getting a lesser charge. Remember, the prosecution must find you guilty beyond reasonable in order to obtain a conviction. What you might consider a minor error in the way the evidence was obtained, could be all that is required to have the charges against you dropped.
Speak to Jim Tanizaki, an Experienced Orange County CA Property Crime Lawyer
Don’t think you can’t fight the charges against you! Contact the law office of Orange County, CA criminal defense attorney Jim Tanizaki today to discover your legal options. Use our website, or call us at (714) 655-7633 to schedule a free, confidential initial consultation to discuss your case.