California Embezzlement Defense Lawyers

Embezzlement Overview – California Penal Code Section 503

The white collar crime of embezzlement, as defined in California Penal Code Section 503, is the fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been entrusted. California embezzlement laws punish the crime as a theft under California Penal Code Section 484.

To illustrate this crime, assume you work as a truck driver delivering cases of beer for your employer. If instead of delivering the beer to the customer you decide to unload the beer into your own garage for all your friends to drink, you have committed embezzlement. It is not necessary that you take all the beer in order for you to be convicted. The intent to deprive the owner of the property, even temporarily, is enough to complete this crime. So the fact that you may have intended to restore the property to its owner is not a defense. Thus, even if you return all the beer from your garage, you can still be convicted of embezzlement.

Embezzlement often occurs in the workplace where employees are entrusted with valuable items by virtue of their employment. Bank tellers, for example, handle large amounts of cash on a daily basis due to the nature of their duties. It often happens in these workplace situations that people are charged with embezzlement when in fact they may have been absent-minded or merely forgetful. Therefore, it is important to have an experienced attorney look at the unique facts of your case and zealously defend you against embezzlement accusations.

The crime of embezzlement is punishable either as a felony or a misdemeanor offense. If the value of the property embezzled is worth more than $400, you can be convicted for felony embezzlement which can bring with it a jail sentence of up to 3 years in state prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. As a misdemeanor offense, involving situations in which the property embezzled amounts to less than $400, a conviction includes up to 6 months in county jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.

Embezzlement is a serious charge that can hinder your livelihood and even jeopardize your freedom. If you are charged with embezzlement, you will need the skill and knowledge of a competent embezzlement attorney on your side. Our attorneys at Wallin and Klarich have over 30 years of experience handling countless embezzlement cases and will raise all viable defenses to aggressively protect your rights. Please call Wallin and Klarich today at 888-280-6839 or visit our website at www.wklaw.com to speak with one of our Orange County embezzlement defense attorneys regarding your matter. We will be there when you call.