Salinas Theft Crime Defense Lawyer

Will Jail Time Follow a Petty Theft Charge in CA?

Under California law, when the property stolen is valued at less than $950, it is considered to be petty theft. Generally, petty theft is a misdemeanor offense and can result in penalties such as jail time or fines.

The penalties for misdemeanor petty theft in California include:

• Up to six months in jail
• Up to a $1,000 fine
• Or both

If the petty theft involved property valued at $50 or less, you may receive an infraction which is not punishable by jail time. For an infraction you may only face a $250 fine.

Defense Strategies Against Theft Charges

Our firm obtains over 150 years of combined experience defending theft accusations like yours. We have the skills, resources and work ethic needed to help prove your innocence and win your case. Once you hire our focused Salinas theft crimes attorney to defend your rights, we will begin analyzing defense tactics that could enhance your likelihood of seeing a favorable result.

We will employ proven defense strategies, such as:

• Lack of intent: The prosecution must prove that you intended to steal the property. If they cannot prove it, then your case may be dismissed.
• Claim of ownership: You genuinely believe you owned the allegedly stolen property or had permission to own it, even if you were mistaken.
• Owner's consent: The owner of the allegedly stolen property gave you permission to own it, thus transferring their rights to the property to you.
• Entrapment: The owner of the allegedly stolen property tricked or lured you into committing theft when you weren’t interested in doing so to begin with.
• Intoxication: You were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the alleged incident and didn’t realize you committed theft because your senses were impaired.
• Duress: You were threatened or coerced into committing the alleged defense. You were under the impression that if you didn’t commit theft, something life-threatening would happen to you.

Contact Us Today

Our award-winning theft crimes lawyers are committed to fighting for your success and making this time in your life as bearable as possible. We understand that a theft crime accusation is a troubling experience, which is why our team of specialists closely communicate with clients to inform them of every detail and defense strategy in their case. Our Salinas theft crimes lawyer is a board-certified criminal defense expert and is deemed one of the “Best Lawyers in America,” so you don’t have to wonder if we are the best firm for you: Our track record proves that we are.

Charged with Theft? Contact us online or call (831) 704-1852 to schedule your free initial case review.