Phoenix Theft Defense Attorney
Have you been arrested for a theft-related crime?
A theft crime is defined as the illegal act of taking or using another person's property without permission or consent. It is also considered a theft crime to accept or receive property that you know to be stolen. Theft crimes can range from the simple act of stealing something from a store to the much more serious felony crime of embezzling money from a large corporation. If you have been accused of committing a theft crime, it is absolutely imperative that you hire a criminal defense attorney who has experience handling cases of this nature. Phoenix criminal lawyer Anthony Knowles has been working in the Arizona criminal justice system for over 15 years, and has successfully defended clients charged with a number of theft crimes, such as:
Penalties for Theft Crimes in Phoenix, Arizona
The penalties for a theft crime conviction will depend largely on the value of the property that was stolen. All theft crimes are categorized as either petty theft or grand theft. Petty theft is a misdemeanor in which the value of the stolen property is valued at $1,000 or less. Grand theft is a felony crime in which the value of the stolen property is $1,000 or more. As petty theft is a simpler crime, a conviction will typically result in fines, restitution to the victim, community service, a mark on your permanent record, and possibly a short-term jail sentence. A grand theft conviction, however, can result in a number of much serious penalties, such as long-term prison sentences, incredibly high fines, restitution to the victim, hundreds of hours of community service and a mark on your permanent record. Furthermore, a grand theft conviction will be much more damaging to your reputation.
How can you defend against theft conviction?
If you have been charged with a theft-related crime, no matter whether it involved grand or petty theft, it is in your best interests to get the involvement of a lawyer well-versed in criminal law. Even when it seems impossible, it's important to remember that there are specific defenses that can be utilized against such a crime. For example, one of the most commonly used defenses is that the intent. It's important to remember that this is a crime whose foundation rests solely on intentions. If it cannot be determined that it was your intention to commit the theft, then you cannot be successfully prosecuted. In other cases, if you don't believe that you'll be able to avoid conviction altogether, you might be able to get the charges dismissed; for instance, getting auto theft reduced to joyriding charges.
Talk to an Experienced Phoenix Theft Attorney Today
If you have been accused of committing a theft crime in the Phoenix metro area, you can be certain the state and/or federal prosecutors are going to come after you with tenacity and fervor. Not only will they immediately begin an invasive investigation into your criminal charges, but they will also seek to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. In their eyes, you are already guilty. Now they just have to find the evidence that proves it. For these reasons, it is absolutely crucial that you contact a Phoenix lawyer at the Knowles Law Firm as quickly as possible.
Their firm has years of experience in criminal defense law and can provide you with the type of resourceful and aggressive representation you need to be successful in court. You can trust that they will jump into your ca se head on and immediately begin investigating yo ur charges, collecting evidence and questioning expert witnesses. In the courtroom they will creatively present a persuasive case and contest the prosecution's accusations, but above all they will truly be devoted to protecting your best interest, fighting your criminal charges and helping you get through this difficult time.
If you are facing theft crimes charges in Phoenix, please do not hesitate to contact a Phoenix theft crime attorney from our firm as soon as you can to set up a free consultation.