California forgery sentencing and punishment – california penal code section 470

Forgery Sentencing and Penalties: California Penal Code Section 470

Forgery law identifies the crime as a “wobbler” in California because the prosecution has the discretion to prosecute it as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Whether the crime is charged as a felony or misdemeanor will often depend on the amount of money taken and whether you have any prior theft-related convictions.

A felony forgery offense is punishable by imprisonment in state prison for 16 months, or two or three years.

A misdemeanor forgery offense is punishable by imprisonment in county jail for up to one year.

A conviction may also result in fines of up $10,000 for felony convictions or $1000 for misdemeanor convictions.

You may also be liable for restitution to the victims, which means you will be obligated to pay back the amounts that you took from them through your actions.

If you are facing forgery allegations, be sure to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 30 years of experience in successfully helping clients defend against forgery charges. In developing a forgery defense strategy, our attorneys can help you reduce or dismiss the charges against you, or negotiate on your behalf to place you in a probation program in lieu of jail time. Call us today at 888-749-0034.