Facing Theft Charges in Connecticut?

 Posted on July 05, 2019 in Theft and Property Crimes

The category of theft crimes covers quite a lot of legal real estate, but across the board, it is reasonable to say that none of the offenses under that umbrella should ever be taken lightly. Theft charges and convictions can reflect on your general character, and can actively harm future prospects for things like renting a home or getting a new job. If you have been charged with shoplifting or any other kind of theft crime in Connecticut, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help with your case.

Multiple Theft Crimes

In some states, simple theft is a different crime from, for example, receiving stolen property or shoplifting. In Connecticut, they are all grouped under the ‘umbrella’ of larceny, which in turn is defined as wrongfully “tak[ing], obtain[ing], or withhold[ing]” property from a person with the intent to deprive them of it or to take it for yourself. The different theft crimes have different criteria, but if you are charged with, for example, embezzlement, the actual charge will be larceny in the first, second, or third degree.

Other examples of Connecticut theft crimes include:

• Obtaining money or property under false pretenses
• Theft of services
• Receiving stolen property
• Conversion of a motor vehicle (basically, obtaining a motor vehicle under certain restrictions and then retaining the vehicle instead of returning it - for example, renting a car and not giving it back by the agreed-upon date)
• Taking property (money) through fraudulent use of an ATM
• Any other crime involving the intent to take property for yourself or to place it somewhere that the original owner no longer has access

A Wide Variety of Sentences

If you are convicted of a theft crime in Connecticut, the sentence will largely depend on the amount of property at issue. If, for example, you stole an item from someone’s pocket that was worth $100, the charge would generally be larceny in the sixth degree, which is a class C misdemeanor, carrying a sentence of no more than 3 months’ imprisonment, plus up to $500 in fines. If the item in the same scenario was worth $12,000, the crime is a class C felony, with fines of up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in prison.

Shoplifting charges are somewhat unique in that while they may trigger the criminal penalties of any other theft crime, a shoplifter in Connecticut may also wind up civilly liable to the store in certain situations. If this does happen, it is possible to reach an agreement with the store, but you need an attorney who understands the possible ramifications of this type of issue. Any theft charge on your criminal record can cause serious problems in the future because your honesty is at issue.

Can a Stamford Theft Lawyer Help You?

If you have committed a theft crime, it is very easy to feel like you have nowhere to turn. You need an experienced Stamford defense attorney who understands the potential stakes of this type of case, and the Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner have handled many. We are happy to sit down with you and try to help you in any way we can. Call us today at 203-348-5846 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-125b

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-119