San Diego Theft Defense Attorney

Theft is the action to deprive someone of their rightful property permanently without their consent.

Like any other serious crime, being accused of a theft crime can lead to facing severe criminal penalties and social stigma. But it can be overwhelming to face the crease on your reputation if you’ve been wrongly accused.

In crucial times like these, you need expert legal counsel by your side to help restore your reputation. And that’s what we do at The Law Office of Marc S. Kohnen.

As a professional criminal defense lawyer, Marc works vigorously to obtain favorable results for his clients. We’ll stop at nothing until we’ve done the same for you.

Types of Theft Crimes

Even a single incident can ensue multiple theft charges. That’s because of the relativity of the theft crimes with each other. In turn, the prosecution works to build a strong case against the accused. Often, law enforcement takes up a ferocious approach to obtain evidence.

The prosecution also relies on the specifications of your case to determine the charges you will have to face.

Among the several theft crimes include petty theft, grand theft, shoplifting, robbery, white-collar theft, extortion, etc.

Shoplifting is considered the most common theft crime in California. For the San Diego court system to prove shoplifting occurred, the criteria involve whether the accused entered a business store and if it occurred during business hours. The court system also evaluates whether the accused carried an intention to commit the crime.

Contrary to popular belief, a significant point to note is that burglary does not come under a theft crime.

In reality, burglary is equal to a home invasion. And even though the offender may intend to commit a theft crime, it can lead to committing assault, or other violent crimes, ensuing additional charges.

No matter the type of theft crime you have been accused of, we can help. For that, we will ensure the prosecution proves the offense actually occurred before charging you of the crime. Best of all, we work to establish the evidence carries no substantial weight and fight for your rights in court.

Petty Theft vs. Grand Theft – What’s the Difference?

For a theft to be classified as petty or grand, it depends upon the value of the stolen property. That means a person can be arrested for petty theft if found guilty of seizing property with a value up to $950.

If the stolen item is less than $50, you can be charged less, often merely with a low fine of up to $250.

In comparison, grand theft is a crime that involves taking a property valued at $950 or more. Grand theft is often confused with grand theft auto, but both carry different specifications.

It’s up to the prosecution to charge grand theft as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances. If a past criminal record is found, the prosecutor can seek felony charges.

Penalties for Theft Crimes

Generally, the punishment ranges from probation with no jail time to several years in state prison. But how you’re charged also depends upon several factors. For example, determining the loss that occurred, your previous criminal history, and if you can pay the restitution to the victim party.

But above all, it depends upon the quality of robbery lawyers you’ve hired to represent you in court.

Being charged with a theft crime can lead to jail time, fines, and probation. So, petty theft charges can result in up to six months in jail with a fine of up to $1,000. And if you received stolen property as a misdemeanor, it can result in up to twelve months of jail time.

In comparison, felony charges carry hefty fines with up to several years in state prison.

Given all these factors, it’s best not to lose time. Instead, you can contact an experienced San Diego grand theft defense lawyer who knows how to navigate through the legal complications.

What Defense Strategies Do We Use for Theft Crimes?

If you think you can defend your case in court alone, you couldn’t be more mistaken.

The court judges, prosecution, and law enforcement are never on the side of the accused, even if you are innocent. That’s why you need a plausible robbery lawyer to represent you.

The first strategy we use is ensuring the prosecution proves every element of the obtained evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

As a skilled defense lawyer, Marc identifies the flaws in the evidence, which further helps in obtaining a dismissal order from the court or lesser fines with no conviction.

Furthermore, we also use different defensive tactics to prove your innocence. For instance, it can be that you carried no intent. Or the value of the property is less than defined by the prosecution, which can reduce the charges from grand theft to petty theft.

Most significant of all, we evaluate if your civil rights were violated while searching and obtaining evidence. Combined with Marc’s superior courtroom negotiation skills, all these factors are more than a defining factor to protect your reputation and prevent a permanent criminal record.

Book an Initial Consultation with the Best San Diego Robbery Attorney

Facing a theft accusation can be challenging. But not if you have the best robbery lawyer by your side.

At The Law Office of Marc S. Kohnen, we have years of experience helping our clients return to a life of productivity. We believe that a mere accusation shouldn’t be the cause for severe punishment. That’s why we encourage our clients to consult with us and discuss their options in great detail.