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Felony theft convictions can come with heavy penalties in New York State. If you have been charged with theft, you should not try to build a defense all by yourself. Contact an experienced Queens theft crime lawyer and talk to a professional who can help you poke holes in a prosecutor’s case and potentially save you from some of the state’s most severe punishments.
Theft can be a misdemeanor or a felony. Usually, the chief factor that determines what a defendant is charged with is how much they are accused of stealing. Stealing something worth $1,000 or less is usually considered a misdemeanor. If you are accused of stealing items worth more than $1,000, then you are going to be charged with felony theft. To be more specific, this is a class E felony. The class of felony can continue to get more serious as the value of the items stolen increases.
You could also be charged with felony theft if you extorted the victim, threatening to harm them, their reputation, or their business.
The value of the items stolen is not the only thing that can affect the severity of the charges against you. Stealing some items will get you charged with felony theft even if the items themselves are not worth $1,000 or more. Credit cards and certain scientific materials are a good example of this. Stealing a firearm can also result in heavier penalties, even when a particular weapon is not all that valuable.
In many cases, a felony theft conviction will result in a prison sentence. How severe your punishment is generally depends on the class of felony you are charged with. General guidelines look a bit like this:
Those convicted of felony theft also usually have to pay fines. They could end up owing $5,000 or double the value of the property taken, whichever is greater. Repeat offenders can end up facing worse punishments due to their criminal history.
You should not try to explain yourself to the police. Instead, hire an attorney and let them do the talking for you. A seasoned attorney from our firm can communicate on your behalf and keep you from incriminating yourself. A lawyer can also help you fight for your rights in court, getting inappropriately obtained evidence thrown out and negotiating for plea deals on your behalf, if necessary.
If you are ready to learn more about what an experienced attorney can do for you, contact Vasiliou Law. We can schedule a free consultation for you and take a closer look at your case.
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