Huntington Beach Grand Theft Attorney

In general, property crimes are committed in vastly higher numbers than violent crimes. Huntington Beach is no exception. In 2010, there were 4,673 total property crime incidents in Huntington Beach. One of the most serious theft crimes is grand theft, and it does not only involve stealing cars or expensive electronics, although there were 285 car thefts in 2010. The Huntington Beach grand theft attorney at the Johnson Criminal Law Group has experience dealing with all kinds of theft crimes, and she can help you understand the offense and the best way to deal with it.

Under California law in Penal Code section 487, theft of property valued at over $950 constitutes the crime of “grand theft.” There are also certain categories of items which, if stolen, always are grand theft regardless of the value. These items include cars and firearms. For example, if someone were to break into someone else’s house and steal a gun worth three hundred dollars, it would still be considered grand theft even though it does not go over $950. Grand theft is a crime that can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. For instance, a few factors that might determine whether or not your case will be considered a misdemeanor or a felony include the entire value of the property or goods allegedly stolen, if that person had any priors, and the item taken. And the differences in penalties are substantial, depending on that classification. A misdemeanor grand theft conviction will entail up to one year in jail in a county facility. The Huntington Beach grand theft attorney knows that a felony, on the other hand, is up to three years in a state penitentiary.

There are defenses that can be used when charged with grand theft. A common argument is that you did not have the intentions of committing grand theft. For example, this may be the case if you are shopping at a store that sells luxury goods but when you are leaving, you mistakenly forget to take off the clothing that you had tried on. Another defense for grand theft is that the person who owns the stolen property gave you their permission and consent to take it. An example of this happening would be someone accidentally taking the wrong luxury handbag while dining out at a restaurant because of the handbag’s similarity to her own that she had brought that day. The woman genuinely had no idea that the handbag she was taking was not her own. Instead, she thought it to simply be the one that she had brought out that night. Because she was unaware of who the actual owner was, this could be a possible defense.

The Law Office of Ms. Johnson-Norris’s Huntington Beach grand theft attorney will work and use her experience to gain the best result for each client’s particular circumstances. Dealing with all the players in the criminal system is important for working to prove innocence and/ or getting the best possible outcome for a grand theft arrest. So contact the Law Office at (949) 622-5522 or through an online message.