California Grand Theft Crimes

Grand theft refers to stealing or taking property that is valued over $400. In most cases grand theft is a felony offense, however under California Penal Code 487, grand theft is technically a "wobbler." This means, depending on the circumstances of the case, it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense.

If you are convicted of grand theft as a misdemeanor, then you will face up to one year in county jail. If you are convicted of grand theft as a felony, then you face anywhere from sixteen months to three years in a California state prison. There are sentence enhancements that apply to grand theft crimes when the property value goes above certain thresholds and these would include:

• If the property value was more than $65,000, you could get an additional year
• If the property value was worth more than $200,000, two additional years
• If the value was worth more than $1,300,000, three additional years
• If the value was more than $3,200,000, four additional years

What the Prosecution Has To Prove

The first and foremost important thing the prosecution has to prove is "intent." The intent to steal had to be present during the crime, without it, there is no grand theft. The prosecution will try to prove that you unlawfully took the property by larceny, embezzlement, trickery or false pretenses. If you have been charged with a theft crime, a Irvine grand theft defense attorney at Apkarian and Zalewski can help provide you with a strong defense. We will examine the possibility that you were in fact given consent to use or hold the property, or if you obtained the property under your claim of right, which would not be grand theft. Our firm has nearly thirty years in combined experience defending clients in Southern California in both the state and federal courts. We will work tirelessly to help bring your grand theft case to an optimal solution.

Contact a Irvine Grand Theft Defense Lawyer at our firm today for a free case evaluation.