I was arrested for felony Grand Theft, is there a way to it reduced to a misdemeanor? Also, what type of punishment am I facing?
California Penal Code 487 PC "grand theft" is a "wobbler". This means that depending on (1) the circumstances of your case, and (2) your criminal history, the charge may be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony. What will likely influence the prosecutor one way or another is (1) the amount of money or value of the property taken, (2) if you have prior convictions for theft related offenses,…
Read MoreI am bring charged with grand theft for stealing a computer from another student at school. I admitted the theft, but I already got rid of the computer. What kind of punishment am I looking at?
Grand theft is a “wobbler” under California law which means it can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. The most important factors to take into account in any grand theft case is whether it’s charged as a felony or misdemeanor, the value of the property stolen, whether the defendant can pay full restitution before the case resolves, and the criminal history of the defendant. Of those factors likely the…
Read MoreWhat is the punishment for grand theft?
If you are found guilty of grand theft you are facing up to three years in jail. The court has the discretion to place you on probation for a maximum of three years. In addition the court has the power to sentence you to less than three years and put you on probation for the balance of that time period. What this means is the court can impose a one…
Read MoreCan I get probation for petty theft? (Penal Code Section 484)?
YES. In California you are facing a possible jail sentence if you are convicted of petty theft. In addition, petty theft is a crime of “moral turpitude” for immigration purposes. If you are convicted of petty theft this can greatly impact your ability to find employment. You should immediately contact our criminal defense law firm so we can help you find a way to receive an alternative sentence that may…
Read MoreI was cited for petty theft at Walmart recently. I am not a United States Citizen. If I am found guilty of petty theft, could this impact my ability to become a citizen?
You are definitely correct to be worried about this consequence. Petty theft is deemed a crime of “moral turpitude” for immigration purposes. This means that a conviction could have a very negative impact on your ability to be come a United States citizen in the future. You should retain an experienced theft defense lawyer immediately so they can help you. In many cases, the court may offer a program which…
Read MoreIf you have a petty theft on your background and were on probation for a 3 years and you violated your probation and got caught for another petty theft, what is most likely going to happen to someone?
If you are still on probation for the first petty theft then you are facing jail time on the probation violation. In addition you are facing up to one year in county jail on the new petty theft case. These crimes are considered crimes of moral turpitude and of course can not only lead to jail time but to probation. A person who has two petty theft convictions on their…
Read MoreWhat will happen if I took a credit card and then purchased items with it?
If you take a credit card and use it to purchase items, you can be charged with theft. Theft is a serious crime and can carry civil and criminal penalties. This crime can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the facts of the case and the prosecuting agency. Also, if you are arrested, bail will be set and you will remain in custody until bail is…
Read MoreWhat will happen to me if I fail to appear in court on my court date for my grand theft case in San Bernardino?
If you failed to appear in court on your scheduled court date the judge likely issued a bench warrant for your arrest. The judge would have set a bail amount when he ordered the warrant issued. What this means is that you are now subject to being arrested by any law enforcement agency for any reason. Often the police will go to your home or place of work to arrest…
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