Under Kentucky criminal law, theft is the taking of the property of another person with the intent to deprive that person of his or her property. There are many different types of theft crimes and all have specific charges that may apply. Should you be convicted of a theft crime, the severity of your punishment will rest not only on what type of theft was committed but other details about the offense such as the value of the property that was subject to theft.
What are the Differences Between Different Theft Crimes?
There is a long list of theft crimes in Kentucky. This includes burglary, robbery, and larceny. These terms are often thrown around when generally referring to theft, but each of these crimes has important distinctions. For instance:
Burglary occurs when a person knowingly enters a structure or other real property without the authority to do so and while intending to commit a crime therein. It will also be considered burglary if a person remains on the property after his or her privilege to be on the property has been revoked and he or she intends to commit a crime.
Robbery occurs when, in the course of committing a theft, the person committing the theft uses or threatens the immediate use of physical force upon someone else with the intent of succeeding in the theft.
Larceny is what most people will consider common theft. Larceny occurs when a person takes someone else’s property without using force and from a place other than in the victim’s home. It is the unlawful taking of someone else’s property without his or her consent with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.
There are even more types of theft that can sometimes be even more specific than these described here. They include:
- Identity theft
- Credit card theft
- Embezzlement
- Theft by extortion
- Theft of services
Different theft crimes will be categorized as either misdemeanor or felony offenses. Felony offenses will carry more severe consequences. The penalties for a conviction of a theft crime may involve:
- Jail time
- Fines
- Probation
- Restitution
- Community service
In addition to these court-imposed penalties, a conviction of a theft crime will have personal and professional impacts as well. It is likely that you will have to disclose a theft conviction on things such as job and housing applications.
Theft Crime Defense Attorney
Facing a criminal charge for a theft crime is not the end of your options. You can fight this. Someone may have mistakenly identified you as the perpetrator of the crime. You may have an alibi to prove you could not have committed the crime because you were elsewhere. It may even have been a big misunderstanding and you had a good faith belief that the property was really yours. Dickman Law Office is here to mount the strongest possible defense for you to help prevent that criminal charge from turning into a conviction. Contact us today.
Posted in: Criminal Defense, Theft crimes