Manassas Theft Lawyer 

Theft is defined under Virginia law in a lot of different ways. Essentially, theft is taking property that does not belong to somebody without the consent of the owner and with the intent to permanently deprive the true owner of the property.

The consequences of theft can be quite serious, depending on the severity of the specific offense. If you face theft charges, a Manassas theft lawyer could work tirelessly to build your case. Consult a determined criminal defense attorney that could construct a solid defense for you.

Elements of Theft

The elements of the crime are going to depend on what law an individual is charged under. The charges are broken down into different misdemeanor offenses. One of the major elements of theft is the intentional taking away of somebody’s property without that person’s consent and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

Different charges that can be included in theft are things like grand larceny, petit larceny, shoplifting, potentially robbery, carjacking, and taking certain types of animals from somebody else.

Expectations of a Consultation

If somebody were to call a Manassas theft lawyer’s office to discuss their theft charges, they can expect that the attorney is going to want to know everything that happened during the course of the incident. Some facts that they might want to know include:

• Where exactly the person was
• What they were doing
• If the person was with other people
• Why the individual was charged
• If the potential client made any statements

The attorney will also want to know any other facts that one might find helpful to the case.

Possible Consequences of Theft

Possible consequences for theft charges depend on the nature of the crime, like whether it is a felony or a misdemeanor, and the amounts that are involved, like whether or not there is violence or weapons involved as well as what the person’s criminal record is like.

One of the other things taken into consideration is whether or not there is restitution to be paid or something taken, that was not recovered completely, and if so, what is that amount and will have to be paid back. A Manassas theft attorney could answer any questions that individuals have about the potential consequences of theft.

Penalties For a Misdemeanor Theft Charge

The consequences of a misdemeanor theft charge are potential fines up to $2,500, up to 12 months in jail, or some combination thereof, and that amount would be determined. Whether or not it is a misdemeanor or a grand larceny would be determined by whether or not the item is worth less than $200, making it a misdemeanor offense.

Penalties For a Felony Theft Charge

Felony theft charges in Virginia are regarded more seriously, and as a result, they have harsher consequences. First and foremost, they are felonies, so the person will lose their right to vote, their right to own a gun in Virginia, and their right to qualify for certain types of public assistance.

There are also the collateral consequences that go along with it, like work-related job loss, potential ineligibility for certain types of jobs, and the social stigma that goes on with that.

On a more practical level, the individual will have to pay a significant amount of restitution, depending on the facts of the case and the type of felony theft a person is charged with. A person could potentially go to prison for 20 years for one count of grand larceny. A skilled Manassas theft lawyer could attempt to mitigate the penalties that an individual may face.

Importance of Working With a Manassas Theft Attorney

A person charged with theft in Virginia should consider hiring a Manassas theft lawyer because theft carries a penalty of up to 12 months in jail or up to a $2,500 fine to some type of felony offense, which, depending on the facts and what it is like robbery or something more serious, could potentially carry up to life in prison. A seasoned criminal defense attorney could devote the time and resources necessary to build a person’s case.