Newport Beach Grand Theft Attorney
In a safe and generally low violence area like Newport Beach, property crimes are committed in vastly higher numbers than violent crimes. In 2010, there were 2,176 total property crime incidents in Newport Beach. One of the most serious theft crimes is grand theft, and it does not only involve stealing cars or expensive electronics. The Newport Beach grand theft attorney at the Johnson Criminal Law Group has experience dealing with all kinds of theft crimes, and can help you understand the offense and the best way to deal with it.
Theft of property valued at over $950 constitutes the crime of “grand theft” under California law. There are also certain categories of items which, if stolen, always are grand theft regardless of the value. These items include cars and firearms. Grand theft is covered under Penal Code section 487.
Grand theft is a crime that can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances—the differences in penalties are substantial. A misdemeanor grand theft conviction will entail up to one year in jail in a county facility. The Newport Beach grand theft attorney knows that a felony, on the other hand, may lead up to three years in a state penitentiary.
There are a number of defense strategies that are commonly used by people being accused of grand theft. For example, one defense strategy is that if charged with grand theft, some will choose to argue that the value of the items stolen was not over the value of $950, which therefore makes their case qualify for becoming a petty theft misdemeanor case with less severe penalties. Another defense strategy is that they did not have the knowledge that the alleged stolen property was someone else’s. Some will say that they might have thought that it was there’s. For example, a man wearing an expensive designer coat walks into a restaurant and mistakenly leaves the coat on a chair. Another man accidentally takes the coat and leaves with it on because he thought that the coat was his due to their similar color and design. Because the man who took the coat had no intentions of depriving the rightful owner of his rightful property, this crime would not be considered grand theft. Another defense strategy that some may use is that they were given the permission of the owner of the alleged stolen property to take it. For example, a woman takes the man’s car after he says that he is gifting it to her for her birthday. She drives the car away, only to be accused of committing grand theft the next day by the man who says that she stole his car. Because the man gave his consent to her to take the car, she could make this argument.
The Newport Beach grand theft attorney at the Johnson Criminal Law Group will work hard to gain the best result for each client’s particular circumstances. Dealing with all the players in the criminal system is important for working to prove innocence and getting the best possible outcome for a grand theft arrest. So contact the Law Office at (949) 622-5522 or through an online message.
