If you have been arrested for a crime involving theft you should obtain the representation of a Philadelphia theft crime attorney immediately. A conviction for a theft offense is a detriment to someone’s future. Theft crimes can leave a very unsavory blemish on someone’s record that will effect the potential for job prospects just about as much as any other type of conviction could. People convicted of theft crimes are deemed untrustworthy, and it is a stigma that most are unable to overcome after being found guilty of some form of theft. Theft is defined as the criminal act of taking someone’s property without their permission.
Property can include credit and services, as well as physical objects. Theft charges range in severity, and this is often correlated to the value of the items that were allegedly stolen. Also considered will be the manner in which they were taken.
Some common examples of theft crimes include:
All of these crimes have a certain stigma attached to them, and all of them are taken very seriously by the prosecutor’s office and thejudges in Philadelphia. Whether your theft offense is a misdemeanor or a felony, you can expect the implications of your charges to be considerable.
If you’re facing felony charges in Philadelphia, it is important that you understand something about the criminal justice system. The justice system is made up of both a judge and jury, a prosecutor and a defense attorney. The prosecutor’s office has a seemingly endless amount of resources to prosecute you with one goal in mind — to obtain a felony conviction. In order to compete with that, you’ll need to invest in committed criminal defense in order to have thorough legal research and investigation, to retain expert witnesses at trial and to have a skilled and successful trial attorney advocate on your behalf.
Conviction of even a minor theft offense can permanently affect your ability to get the job of your choice, and may limit your career. No one wants to hire someone who has a theft related offense on their record. It may result in the discharge of your current employment, especially if your current job involves (handling money). Getting an experienced attorney early could mean the difference between jail time and freedom in your case.
Your punishment level at sentencing will depend on the value of the items you’ve allegedly stolen. Punishment will be more severe as the value of the items increases. Some theft crimes are considered misdemeanor crimes with a potential sentence of 0-12 months in jail for lower value items.
Hiring an experienced Philadelphia Theft Charge Attorney in these matters can be the difference between getting off with a small fine, or going to jail and having a criminal record for the rest of your life. Don’t let that happen to you.
