Maybe you were accused as you tried to leave a store. Or the police noticed merchandise in your car during a routine traffic stop. Or they searched your house. Or they investigated and uncovered evidence you were stealing from your employer.
Whatever your situation, if you are charged with theft in Denver, it can turn your entire life upside down. Depending on the value of what you have been accused of stealing and the nature of the theft itself, you may face incredibly serious penalties, including prison time, high fines, and restitution. Beyond the criminal consequences, the stigma comes with being branded as a thief – something that can make it far more difficult to find housing, get a good job, secure a loan, or date.
Because of this, it is vital that you fight your charges with the most vigorous possible defense. Jacob Martinez has been successfully helping Coloradans battle theft charges for years, and he can work with you, too. He understands the nuances of this oftentimes misunderstood area of the law and how to push back against accusations and poke holes in prosecutorial arguments. His primary goal is to get your charges dropped or dismissed, and if you decide to work with him, he will explore every possible legal avenue to make this happen.
Types of Theft Offense in Colorado That Jacob Martinez Can Help You Fight
One of the things that people find so confusing about theft is that the crime encompasses so many different types of acts. In fact, the definition of theft is so broad that it is possible to be charged with a crime and not even realize that it falls under the umbrella of theft.
What is the legal definition in Colorado?
“(1) A person commits theft when he or she knowingly obtains, retains, or exercises control over anything of value of another without authorization or by threat or deception; or receives, loans money by pawn or pledge on, or disposes of anything of value or belonging to another that he or she knows or believes to have been stolen, and:
(a) Intends to deprive the other person permanently of the use or benefit of the thing of value;
(b) Knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value in such manner as to deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
(c) Uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value intending that such use, concealment, or abandonment will deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
(d) Demands any consideration to which he or she is not legally entitled as a condition of restoring the thing of value to the other person; or
(e) Knowingly retains the thing of value more than seventy-two hours after the agreed-upon time of return in any lease or hire agreement.”
Basically, the gist of the law is that if you take, use, keep, hide, sell, or dispose of someone else’s property without their permission and with the intent of permanently depriving them of that property, you have committed theft.
The most commonly charged theft crimes in the State of Colorado include:
- Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft
- Burglary
- Fare Evasion
- Fuel Piracy
- Possession of Theft Detection Devices
- Property Crimes
- Shoplifting
- Theft
- Theft of Rental Property
- Theft of Trade Secrets
- Theft by Receiving
- White Collar and Fraud Crimes
Additionally, a high number of juvenile crimes involve theft – particularly shoplifting. If your minor son or daughter has been accused of a theft crime, make sure you work with a lawyer like Jacob Martinez, who has a track record of successfully working on cases in juvenile court.
Theft Penalties a Knowledgeable Denver Criminal Attorney Can Help You Avoid
With theft encompassing so many different acts, many potential consequences may be attached to your specific charge. Some of the most common include:
- Community service
- Fines
- House arrest
- Imprisonment
- Probation
- Restitution
Generally speaking, the penalties associated with theft are directly related to the property’s value. In terms of charges, your offense may be deemed as minor as petty theft or as severe as felony theft, with misdemeanor charges in-between.
Here is the breakdown by charge:
Class 1 Petty Offense. If you are accused of stealing property valued at less than $50, you will be charged with a class 1 petty offense. This type of charge can result in up to six months in jail and a fine of $500.
Class 3 Misdemeanor. If you are accused of stealing property valued between $50 and $300, you will be charged with a Class 3 Misdemeanor. This type of charge comes with a minimum sentence of a $50 fine and a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of up to $750.
Class 2 Misdemeanor. If you are accused of stealing property valued between $300 and $750, you will be charged with a Class 2 Misdemeanor. This type of charge comes with a minimum sentence of three months in jail, a $250 fine, a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail, and a fine of up to $1,000.
Class 1 Misdemeanor. If you are accused of stealing property valued between $750 and $2000, you will be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor. This type of charge comes with a minimum sentence of six months in jail, a $500 fine, a maximum sentence of 18 months in jail, and a fine of up to $5,000.
Class 6 Felony. If you are accused of stealing property valued between $2000 and $5000, you will be charged with a Class 6 Felony. This type of charge can result in a prison sentence of between 12 and 18 months and a fine between $1,000 and $100,000.
Class 5 Felony. If you are accused of stealing property valued between $5000 and $20,000, you will be charged with a Class 5 Felony. This type of charge can result in a prison sentence of between one and three years and a fine between $1,000 and $100,000.
Class 4 Felony. If you are accused of stealing property valued between $20,000 and $100,000, you will be charged with a Class 4 Felony. This type of charge can result in a prison sentence of between two and six years and a fine between $2,000 and $500,000.
Class 3 Felony. If you are accused of stealing property valued between $100,000 and $1,000,000, you will be charged with a Class 3 Felony. This type of charge can result in a prison sentence of between four and 12 years and a fine between $3,000 and $750,000.
Class 2 Felony. If you are accused of stealing property valued at over $1,000,000, you will be charged with a Class 2 Felony. This type of charge can result in a prison sentence of between eight and 24 years and a fine between $5,000 and $1,000,000.
Reach Out to Experienced Colorado Criminal Lawyer Jacob Martinez Now to Start Crafting Your Defense Strategy
Depending on the specific nature of your alleged crime, there are many ways that a skillful and knowledgeable defense attorney can help. In some cases, Jacob Martinez has even been able to prevent charges from ever being filed against his clients.
However, your options become more restricted the longer you wait to get in contact. Certain types of evidence may no longer be available to you. Witnesses can disappear. Law enforcement can use their time alone with you to coerce you into saying or doing things that harm your case.
Do not let this happen. Set up a free initial consultation with Jacob Martinez immediately.
Phone: 720-246-6700
Fax: 720-223-5565
