Types of Theft in California
Theft is basically taking property or cash that belongs to someone else, without their permission or consent. There are a lot of crimes that are considered to be theft in California. These include:
Petty theft – the unlawful taking of another person’s property valued up to $950.
Grand theft – the unlawful taking of another person’s property valued up to $950.
Grand theft auto – the unlawful taking of an automobile.
Grand theft firearm – the unlawful taking of a firearm.
Burglary – unlawfully entering another person’s property without permission with the intent to steal their property.
Robbery – the forceful taking of another individual’s property from their body or presence through the use of force or by use of threat.
Embezzlement – the unlawful taking or misappropriating of money or property that has been entrusted to an individual.
Receiving stolen property – is a charge related to theft; an individual can be charged with this crime if they have knowingly received, purchased, or hidden stolen property.
Penalties for Theft in California
The penalties for being found guilty of theft in California depend on a lot of factors, namely what kind of theft was involved, the amount that was stolen, and whether or not violence or threats of violence were used during the commission of the offense.
A sentence for misdemeanor petty theft can include fines up to $1000 dollars, being ordered to pay restitution, and up to six months in jail. If you’ve been found guilty of felony theft, you could be looking at between 16 months to 3 years in prison, in addition to fines and restitution.
Other types of theft have more severe penalties. For instance, a robbery conviction could get you up to five years in prison; burglary could get you six years. As far as fines, if you are convicted of grand theft auto, grand theft firearm, or embezzlement, you could be ordered to pay up to $10,000 in fines.
In order to get a conviction, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you took another person’s property with the clear intent to deprive them of their property. There are many possible defense strategies that can be used during the trial. These include:
- You didn’t intend to deprive someone of their property.
- You believed the property belonged to you.
- You had permission from the owner to take the property.
- You’ve been falsely accused.
Speak to an Orange County CA Theft Lawyer
If you’ve been charged with theft in Orange County, CA, it’s important to take immediate steps to protect your rights. Your first move should be to contact the law office of Orange County CA theft attorney Jim Tanizaki.
Jim Tanizaki is a former Orange County DA turned criminal defense attorney. This unique background and experience give him an advantage other criminal defense attorneys don’t possess. Jim knows the tactics the prosecution will use to gain a conviction – this knowledge allows him to craft the kind of effective defense strategies that can result in reduced or dismissed charges for his clients
Contact the law office of Jim Tanizaki using our website or call us at (714) 655-7633 to schedule a free confidential initial consultation with a leading Orange County, CA criminal defense attorney.