A petty theft offense itself is not a felony in Riverside but rather it can be charged as a misdemeanor or an infraction. However, the act of petty theft can result in a felony charge under certain circumstances.
For example, if you go into a store with the intent to steal and in fact steal something you could be potentially charged with felony commercial burglary due to your act of petty theft. You can also be charged with the felony charge of petty theft with a prior conviction if you commit an act of petty theft and you have 3 prior theft-related convictions on your criminal record.
Any theft crime is considered a “crime of moral turpitude” and a conviction can significantly impact those with immigration issues as well as make finding a job extremely difficult for anybody. Anyone facing petty theft charges in Riverside should consult with an aggressive theft attorney before appearing in court on their case. Call us today at 888-749-0034