If you are accused of a theft crime in California, you are facing SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.  A theft could be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Consequences for a theft offense include:

• State Prison
• County Jail
• Restitution
• Fines
• Community Labor or Community Service
• Immigration Consequences
• Loss of Job

There are two main categories of theft in California:

PETTY THEFT (Penal Code 484)

Petty theft is charged when the value of the items stolen are less than $400. This includes most shoplifting cases.

First time petty theft offenses are charged as misdemeanors, however if you have previously been convicted of a felony theft offense and have served time in state prison for that offense, you could be charged with a felony under Penal Code 666 (Petty Theft With a Prior).

If you are charged with felony petty theft you could face a maximum of three years in the state prison.

GRAND THEFT

In most cases, grand theft occurs when property over $400 in value is stolen (over $950 if stolen from an employer). Grand theft can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

THEFT DIVERSION – ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING

If you want help understanding and changing your behavior, we can help.  We have contacts with affordable support groups and professionals that can help you.  These classes are court approved and, if started early enough, may help in getting your sentence reduced or dismissed. If you are caught with shoplifting or stealing merchandise from a store, you may be in a situation where you don’t even understand why you stole.  Many people steal because they get a “thrill” out of it or do it for the challenge even they don’t necessarily need the items they stole.

CIVIL COMPROMISE

In many theft cases, we can contact the victim and offer what is known as a “civil compromise.”  This means that the victim will accept repayment or return of any stolen property and in return they will recommend to the prosecutor that the charges be dropped.  This requires early intervention on our part, so if you think a civil compromise  may be a possibility in your case, contact us immediately.

RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY

To prove that a defendant received stolen property the prosecution must prove that you or a loved one:

• Bought, sold, received, aided in selling, hid or aided in hiding stolen property AND
• Knew the properly had been stolen.
• Knew that property was in their possession.

Many times people end up with gifts, or buy things from friends or family at a good deal without knowing they had ended up with stolen property.

If this situation happened to you, WE CAN HELP.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH THEFT

Most people know that shoplifting or stealing someone’s wallet is theft, but many people are surprised at the other ways theft charges can be charged.  Often these situations are misunderstandings and were committed without criminal intent and can be worked out.

Here are some examples:

• Using a false credit card or showing a false ID to procure goods or services

• If you rent merchandise such as a car or equipment and do not return it for on time, you can be charged with theft

• card or showing a false ID to procure goods or services, you can be charged with theft.  .  If you are given an item to repair and keep the item for too long of a period without returning it to the owner, you could be charged with theft.

• You find the property of another person and hang on it with the intention of returning it.

EARLY INTERVENTION IS IMPORTANT IN THEFT CASES.
CALL THE LAW OFFICES OF JEROD GUNSBERG AT (310) 210-0744
FOR A FREE CONSULTATION – 24 HOURS A DAY/7 DAYS A WEEK