California Grand Theft Charges

In the state of California, grand theft refers to obtaining another person’s or entity’s property by illegal means and without their consent. If the items stolen are valued over $400, then it is considered grand theft. Depending on the facts surrounding the case, grand theft can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony in California. If you have been arrested for grand theft, contact a Ventura criminal defense attorney without delay.

Grand theft can include any type of items or goods. It can involve money, labor, or real or personal property. Grand theft is not limited to stealing a car, stealing somebody’s purse or stealing consumer products from a department store. Grand theft can be committed by physically carrying somebody’s property away, embezzlement, by tricking somebody to turn over their property but not possession, and by false pretense (making a false representation to defraud somebody out of their possession and ownership of their property), among other means.

Penalties for Grand Theft

The penalties for grand theft don’t have a one size fits all approach. However, the penalties can be very severe depending on the facts of the case and the value of the item/s stolen. Furthermore, if there was a weapon involved during the commission of the crime, there will be serious sentence enhancements tacked on in addition to your regular sentence. If you are charged with a felony, you can either spend a year in county jail, or 16 months in state prison.

Defense against Grand Theft Charges

It’s surprising how stealing even a small item can carry felony punishment. If you are facing grand theft charges, it’s essential that you enlist the assistance of a Ventura grand theft lawyer from the Law Offices of Adam L. Pearlman today. Fortunately, grand theft is one offense that has wiggle room for getting a reduction in charges. Alternatives to incarceration can be sought such as probation, or counseling. We urge you to contact an attorney from our firm today!

Contact a Ventura grand theft lawyer from our firm for a free initial consultation.