Being accused of theft can have severe consequences on your reputation and life overall. If you have theft or larceny on your record, it will be very difficult for an employer to hire you. You will be deemed as untrustworthy and if an employer cannot trust you, they will not want you on their team. The grand theft attorneys at Okabe & Haushalter understand how crucial it is to have a defense team that will be able to articulate your circumstances in the courtroom. We will defend your honor and your freedom. Contact our law offices to schedule an initial consultation where we can discuss your case and options.
Theft also is known as larceny is when one person permanently deprives another person of their property. Theft of someone’s property is committed when the person KNOWINGLY has unauthorized control of the property or uses threat or deception to obtain the property. The person who has taken the property must also have no intention of returning said property. They can conceal or dispose of the property so the original owner has no way of ever retrieving the property. In Chicago, there are subsections of theft including burglary, identity theft, extortion, grand theft, petty theft, shoplifting, carjacking, fraud and embezzlement.
Penalties for grand theft can vary depending on the circumstances, the value and depending on the number of the offense. The lowest charge for theft is a Class A misdemeanor for property worth $500 and carries potential penalties of a $2,500 fine or less than a year in prison. Next, are Class 4 felony charges which have a potential penalty of one to three years in prison and $25,000 in fines. Class 3 felonies also carry $25,000 in fines and two to five years in prison. Class 2 felonies are brought on when the property was stolen was between $10,000 and $100,000 in value. You can face three to seven years in prison and $25,000 in fines. Property valued between $100,000 and $500,000 will be classified as a Class 1 felony carrying a penalty of 4 to 15 years in prison and fines up to $25,000. Class 1 non-probational felonies carry similar penalties as a Class 1 felony. Lastly, the highest level of theft is a Class X felony for property valued over $1 million and carries penalties of 6 to 30 years in prison and additional fines.
There are several defenses our experienced Chicago grand theft attorneys can use while building your case that may not be known to the individual charged with the crime. Some of these defenses include: owner’s consent, insanity (temporary or otherwise), entrapment, duress and coercion. Another defense can be a mistake of fact or the intent to return the item as in borrowing it. Our Chicago grand theft attorneys know these defenses and will use other tactics to build a viable defense that will place you in the best position to succeed. We know how scary it can be to face grand theft charges in Chicago and the Chicagoland area. The first step is to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your case and options. Call our offices today.
