If Ventura Law enforcement has arrested you and charged you with grand theft, it is because someone has accused you of stealing property valued at more than $400, or accused you of stealing an item that comes with an automatic grand theft charge. Firearms and cars are two such items that come with an automatic grand theft charge – regardless of how much the specific property actually cost.
There are different forms of grand theft and each charge for grand theft is based on the specific circumstances surrounding the theft. For example, someone who steals a car and commits violence to steal it will be charged with robbery charges. The same scenario committed with a firearm or other deadly weapon can result in armed robbery charges. Theft of money via fraud can result in embezzlement charges, while grand theft committed via email can result in Internet crimes charges – all in addition to the grand theft charge.
If convicted of grand theft alone, you could face a minimum of a 16-month sentence, but could be sentenced up to 3 years in prison. If the value of the stolen property is great, or if you have a record, enhanced charges may apply, which could result in even stiffer penalties at sentencing.
If you are facing grand theft charges, before you are charged with anything else, you should consult a Ventura grand theft lawyer with experience fighting grand theft cases and enhanced charges and the penalties that come with a conviction.
No matter the charges, you need to fight to maintain your rights under California law, which includes the right to an attorney. Hiring an experienced attorney to defend you against grand theft charges could mean the difference between a conviction and a dismissal, or the difference between one-year of probation and a 3-year prison sentence.
Talk to an attorney about your theft charges
Everyone charged with any crime needs representation, and this is even true of those crimes with which you think you do not need help, such as a misdemeanor shoplifting charge. While the charge might not be too serious now, forging representation could jeopardize your future.
For instance, if you are charged with misdemeanor shoplifting, and are convicted, that conviction could come back to haunt you if you are charged with a felony in the future. Because of California’s three strikes law, any felony conviction later in life, such as for burglary, grand theft, possession of stolen property or robbery, is made even more serious with a prior record, even if that record only consists of a misdemeanor. Because a prior record gives the appearance that you are a repeat or habitual offender, the court is more likely to convict of a felony now, which results in a strike on your record.
Grand theft charges are serious, but if you take your defense just as serious and hire me, Robert M. Helfend, to defend you, I will use my more than 25 years of experience to help defend you against the grand theft and related charges, while fighting the evidence against you.
I understand that an aggressive defense is required in order to fight the charges and potential consequences – especially when a felony and the Three Strikes law is concerned.
With my case history of successful defense against state and federal crimes such as Internet fraud, embezzlement, grand theft auto, and more, I know how to navigate the system to provide you with the best defense strategy possible for a positive outcome.