San Bernardino burglary & theft defense attorney serving Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Pomona, Victorville & all of San Bernardino County
California has many different laws covering stealing. The punishment for the crime depends on many factors, including what was stolen, the value of the stolen item, who it was stolen from, and the intent of the person, among other factors. If you or a loved one are charged with a theft crime, hire experienced theft crimes attorney Marcie Gardner.
Marcie has successfully defended people charged with all types of theft crimes, including:
- Robbery (stealing something using force or fear)
- Grand theft (value of property generally exceeds $950)
- Petty theft (value of property generally less than $950)
- Shoplifting
- Embezzlement (stealing from your employer)
- Carjacking
- Bad checks
- Theft of vehicles (car theft, whether taken for a “joy ride” or an intent to permanently steal the car)
- Receiving stolen property
- Burglary
Someone commits a burglary when they enter a place intending to steal or intending to commit a felony inside that place. Common examples are going into a grocery store (like Vons) knowing you are going to steal something (like beer) or entering a place (like a school) with the intent to take an action which is punishable as a felony (like vandalism). Burglaries can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, and sometimes a burglary can be charged as a “strike” offense.
Experienced theft crimes attorney Marcie Gardner evaluates these cases from many different angles, all in an effort to protect her clients from the bad consequences these crimes can carry. First, Attorney Gardner makes sure that the case is properly charged, as each theft crime has different factors which must be proven and they cannot always be proven in each case. Second, if the theft crime can be proven, Attorney Gardner helps reduce the amount of counts or reduce the seriousness of the crime (from a felony to a misdemeanor or a misdemeanor to an infraction) in appropriate cases. Some theft crimes like burglary and robbery may be charged as “strikes,” meaning they have significant consequences if convicted of those offenses. Marcie Gardner’s top priority is always avoiding strike convictions for her clients.
Theft crimes often occur when people are either struggling financially or have substance abuse problems. Theft crimes attorney Marcie Gardner has successfully helped people in these difficult circumstances. Sometimes in these cases it is important to be able to pay back the victim of the crime. This is called “restitution,” and an ability to pay the amount back in full or within a very short amount of time can make all the difference in trying to resolve these cases. In certain cases, it may be possible to resolve these cases with what is called a “civil compromise.” This means that the victim of the crime agrees that s/he has been paid in full for the damages of the crime and no longer wants prosecution. If agreed to by the Judge, this stops the criminal prosecution completely. However, it is not available in all cases.
It is critical to take theft crimes seriously, as convictions of these crimes can make things difficult for people to get or keep certain types of licenses or certifications. Convictions of these crimes can also make it very difficult to get hired for jobs, as theft-related offenses looks bad on your record. Having theft crimes attorney Marcie Gardner fighting to protect you can make all the difference.
When working with Marcie Gardner, your initial consultation is always free of charge. No fee whatsoever. To contact San Bernardino theft crimes attorney Marcie Gardner, please call 909.635.2047.
Please call today.