Los Angeles Larceny Attorney

Larceny, also known as theft, is one of the most commonly prosecuted property crimes in California. The penalties for larceny charges typically depend on the value of the property stolen, the manner in which the property was stolen, and the defendant’s criminal history. If you or a family member are charged with larceny of any kind in California, you could face a host of penalties that will interfere with your life in many ways.

It’s vital to know your rights when you are charged with a crime in California. The U.S. Constitution ensures that anyone charged with a criminal offense has legal counsel to defend them in court, and no one is required to act as a witness against themselves. If you are arrested for larceny in Los Angeles, exercise your right to remain silent until you can speak with a Los Angeles larceny lawyer you can trust.

The Law Office of Stein & Markus offers robust defense representation to clients accused of larceny offenses in the Los Angeles, CA area. Our team has years of professional experience providing comprehensive criminal defense counsel in one of the largest and busiest metropolitan areas on the planet. We know how LA prosecutors tend to handle larceny cases and how to identify our client’s best options for defense.

Benefits of Hiring a Los Angeles Larceny Attorney

An experienced defense attorney can potentially make an incredible difference in the outcome of any larceny case. When you are charged with a criminal offense in California, you have the right to remain silent while in police custody until you can speak with an attorney. Many people charged with crimes mistakenly believe they must answer all of their arresting officers’ questions, and some are even coerced into signing confessions they do not fully understand.

Exercise your right to remain silent once the police notify you that you are under arrest. They will read you your Miranda rights, take you into custody, and then transport you to their police station for booking. Once you are allowed to make your phone calls, contact an experienced Los Angeles larceny attorney you can trust. The sooner you secure defense representation, the sooner your attorney can help you in determining the best options for your defense.

A criminal defense attorney’s job is to help their client secure a case dismissal if at all possible or to reduce their client’s sentence if necessary. The prosecution has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt by leveraging physical evidence and witness testimony. It is the defense attorney’s job to attack the credibility of the prosecution’s evidence and prevent them from meeting their burden of proof. The right attorney can help you explore all avenues of defense available to you and help you approach your difficult case proceedings with more confidence.

How Much Does a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Cost?

It’s natural to be concerned about the potential cost of hiring legal counsel for your larceny case. While some people assume that opting for free defense counsel from a public defender is the best option when they face potentially expensive penalties for their offense, the reality is that if you have the means to do so, hiring a private defense attorney can ensure a higher level of defense representation than you could expect from a public defender.

Many criminal defense attorneys bill their clients hourly for time spent working on their cases. The more time an attorney spends working on a case, the more it costs the client. Be sure to review a potential defense attorney’s billing policy carefully before agreeing to their representation. This will ensure there are no surprises when it comes to the final cost of your legal fees.

How Is Larceny Prosecuted in California?

Larceny or theft is a “wobbler” offense in California, meaning a charge can “wobble” between misdemeanor and felony status based on the unique details of the case. Recently, California lawmakers approved the controversial Proposition 47, which recategorized many theft offenses to have lesser penalties.

Theft under $950 from a retail establishment constitutes shoplifting, a misdemeanor offense that carries a potential penalty of six months in a county jail, fines of up to $1,000, and restitution to the victim. The defendant could also face heightened charges or additional charges due to any aggravating factors present in their case. For example, if they used a weapon while committing a theft or broke into another person’s property while they were home and harmed the homeowner, their potential penalty could escalate significantly.

Your Los Angeles larceny attorney can help you determine the severity of the charges you face and whether your case entails charges beyond property crimes. Theft may also occur over the internet, and some digital forms of larceny can amount to federal crimes. An experienced attorney will help their client determine their best available defenses whether they are facing misdemeanor or felony theft charges in California.