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When you hear the word “theft”, what comes to mind? Shoplifting? Grand Theft Auto? Tax evasion?
In the state of Arizona, ‘theft’ can refer to a number of actions people take without permission to do so. Penalties for Arizona theft crimes range from Class 1 Misdemeanor to Class 2 Felony charges. The dollar value of the item that was stolen also plays a large factor in determining your sentence and punishment.
Class 1 Misdemeanor
Some theft crimes involve the use or acquisition of another person’s property without consent to do so. If the stolen property has a value of less than $1,000, the crime is usually considered a Class 1 Misdemeanor. This is also sometimes referred to as “petty theft”, but this term downplays the severity of the charge. Petty theft crimes can result in fines of up to $2,500 and up to six months in jail. If this theft was in conjunction with other Arizona crimes, the penalties can be far more severe.
Note: If the stolen item is a firearm or fighting animal, regardless of the value, the crime will likely be considered a Class 6 Felony. You can read about the difference between Misdemeanor charges and Felony charges here.
Other definitions of theft in Arizona include:
- Intentionally depriving someone of their own property
- Fraud (acquiring someone’s personal information or personal property through misrepresentation)
- Using a person’s lost property without first trying to find its owner
- Taking advantage of services without compensating the service provider as per the service agreement
Depending on the value of the stolen item, the offense may be classified as any level of felony from Class 6 Felony up to a Class 2 Felony. Without the help of an experienced Mesa criminal defense attorney like Charlie Naegle, the courts will issue a presumptive sentence, which falls somewhere between the minimum and maximum penalty for the charge. Hiring Charlie Naegle to defend you in your Arizona theft crime will help to reduce your sentence, lessen or drop your charges, and give you the opportunity for a cleaner public record and a more promising future.
Hiring Mesa Criminal Defense Attorney Charlie Naegle
When you hire Naegle & Crider Criminal Defense Attorneys, you won’t be treated like another case number. You will work directly with Charlie to get the best results from your criminal case. Charlie is an aggressive criminal defense lawyer who fights to protect the rights and freedoms of those charged with criminal cases. Call (480) 378-9000 for a free, anytime, anywhere phone consultation and get your legal questions answered fast by an experienced professional criminal defense attorney in Mesa, AZ.