Anne Arundel County Theft Lawyer

Theft charges aren't only levied against risk taking youth. They don't all involve shoplifting-sometimes people are accused of stealing out of need and sometimes people are accused of stealing when they've done nothing wrong at all. There are many situations that could lead to an Anne Arundel County theft charge. But an experienced criminal defense attorney will tell you that most clients admit to the offense and hope owning up to it will lessen the potentially disastrous consequences.

Whether you are innocent of the charges against you or if you admit to the theft and want to take responsibility for your actions, an Anne Arundel County theft attorney can help. They are your advocate in the local court system, looking out for your best interests and working to protect your rights.

Not all theft charges are created equally. All of the following are considered theft offenses:

• Shoplifting
• Identity Theft
• Theft by Deception
• Failing to Return Found Property
• Theft of Services
• Theft of Goods

Basically, if you take control of something that you have no legal right to, you could be charged with a theft offense.

Penalties

The biggest concern when facing Anne Arundel County theft charges is what will happen if you are convicted. No two cases are the same and sentences often reflect this. The penalty you face for a theft charge could be as simple as probation or as serious as years behind bars. In general, however, the maximum penalty is determined by the value of the goods or services that are alleged to have been stolen.

If the goods/services in question are valued at less than $1,000, you will face a maximum 18 months in jail. But, if they are valued at more than $1,000, you face felony theft charges and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

When you are facing serious theft charges, it's up to an aggressive defense attorney to stand up for your rights and represent your interests. The Anne Arundel County theft lawyers with Price Benowitz LLP stand ready to do just that. Having represented many clients against such charges, they know what it takes to get their clients the best results possible.