The Definition Of Petty Theft
Despite the fact that petty theft is not really considered a major crime, this offense can still lead to a number of harsh legal penalties. If you or your loved ones were charged with petty theft, it is important to get in touch with an experienced petty theft attorney at the earliest opportunity.
According to the California Penal Code Section 484, any individual who takes, steals, leads, carries or drives away any personal possessions of another person or who appropriates some property that was entrusted to him through fraudulent action, who will defraud any individual of money, property or labor intentionally and knowingly through false and fraudulent actions, who makes other individuals to file false reports of wealth, fraudulently gets a credit or property or even services of another person, will be guilty of theft. In order to prove his or her guilt, the prosecution will need to prove the following:
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- The defendant fraudulently took possession over property of another individual
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- The defendant acquired one’s property without his or her consent
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- The defendant obtained the property permanently, knowingly and willingly, depriving the owner of possession over the property for an extended period of time
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- The defendant has managed to relocate the property, even by a small distance, keeping it from the owner for a period of time, no matter how small this period of time may be
Regardless of the kind of property that was stolen, the crime is punishable by law. The punishment for petty theft may not be as severe as for some other types of theft, but it can still produce a long-lasting effect that will have a major impact on your everyday life. Criminal records may not go well with your employment and even your rent. Besides, you will be obliged to pay expensive fines and restitution, perform community service and so on.
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Hence, if you or your loved ones were accused of petty theft, do not hesitate to consult an attorney. He will go through all the available evidence and will craft a proper legal defense strategy that will help you get out of this highly unpleasant situation with minimal monetary damages. A good lawyer will have enough experience, skills and expertise to achieve the most desirable outcome for you or your family members. If you were accused of petty theft, you need to contact professional attorney from our law firm today!