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Annapolis Theft Lawyer

Being convicted of theft in Annapolis, Maryland can have potentially negative ramifications. Beyond the possible penalties of jail time and significant fines, there is a certain social stigma attached to the crime of theft.

A knowledgeable Annapolis theft lawyer will use their knowledge of Maryland’s criminal codes to fight for your rights and explore all aspects of your case, looking for ways to mitigate your penalties. Contact our firm today to discuss you unique case with a seasoned defense attorney.

What is Theft?

Maryland Code Section CR 7-104 covers the crime of theft and makes it against the law for you to:

  • Intentionally take control of property, without the permission from the property’s true owner, in a way that deprives the true owner of the property
  • Intentionally use deception to take control of property in a way that deprives the true owner of the property
  • Intentionally take control of property in a way that deprives the true owner of the property when you have actual knowledge, or a belief, that the property has been stolen
  • Intentionally take control of property that you know has been lost or delivered to you by mistake, when you know the identity of the true owner or there was a reasonable way to find out the identity of the true owner of the property, and you fail to make an attempt to restore the property to the true owner

If someone has further questions about what might constitute a theft charge in Annapolis, they should contact a skilled attorney.

Penalties

As an attorney could further explain, the possible penalties associated with a theft conviction in Annapolis, Maryland are dependent upon the value of the allegedly taken property and whether you have had prior convictions for the crime of theft.

Penalties can range from a felony to a misdemeanor conviction which can carry long prison sentences and hefty fines making it important that an Annapolis theft lawyer is contacted.

In Maryland, you could be facing a felony conviction if:

  • The value of the property you intentionally took control of was at least $1,000 but less than $10,000. If this is the case, the penalty for this type of theft, in addition to being required to return the property to the rightful owner, or pay the owner the market value of the property, is up to 10 years in prison and a possible fine that can be as much as $10,000.
  • The value of the property you intentionally took control of was at least $10,000 but less than $100,000. If this is the case, the penalty for this type of theft, in addition to being required to return the property to the rightful owner, or pay the owner the market value of the property, is up to 15 years in prison and a possible fine that can be as much as $15,000.
  • The value of the property you intentionally took control of was at least $100,000. If this is the case, the penalty for this type of theft, in addition to being required to return the property to the rightful owner, or pay the owner the market value of the property, is up to 25 years in prison and a possible fine that can be as much as $25,000.

You could be facing a misdemeanor conviction if:

  • The value of the property you intentionally took control of was less than $1,000. If this is the case, the penalty for this type of theft, in addition to being required to return the property to the rightful owner, or pay the owner the market value of the property, is up to 18 months in prison and a possible fine that can be as much as $500. However, if you have at least two prior convictions for theft of property that has a value less than $1,000, your penalty could increase to up to five years in prison and a fine that can be as much as $5,000.
  • The value of the property you intentionally took control of was less than $100. If this is the case, the penalty for this type of theft, in addition to being required to return the property to the rightful owner, or pay the owner the market value of the property, is up to 90 days in jail and a possible fine that can be as much as $500.

How an Annapolis Theft Attorney Can Help

The penalties associated with the crime of theft are very broad in that the severity of the penalties can vary greatly. This can be a benefit to an experienced and knowledgeable Annapolis theft lawyer as there may be an opportunity to keep you out of jail and away from expensive fines.

A skilled Annapolis theft lawyer in Maryland may be able to mitigate your penalty by focusing on the details behind the theft, your character, and potential flaws in the prosecution’s case.

If you have been charged with theft and would like to consult with an aggressive Annapolis theft lawyer, please contact our firm.