Theft/Larceny Lawyer St. Louis, MO. Whether simple shoplifting, embezzlement, or more serious theft crimes like grand larceny, being convicted of a theft crime in St. Louis or elsewhere throughout Missouri can be a real issue for anyone. Criminal penalties for larceny offenses can result in jail time, massive fines, and potentially time in state prison in more severe cases. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you will be facing either a misdemeanor or a felony charge, which, if convicted could both affect your livelihood years after you stepped into a courtroom.
- Table of Contents
- What Are Some Examples of Theft/Larceny Crimes in St. Louis and Missouri?
- What Are the Theft/Larceny Crime Penalties in St. Louis and Missouri?
- How Can a Theft and Larceny Lawyer in St. Louis, MO Help Me?
- What Are Some Defense Strategies For Theft/Larceny Charges in St. Louis and Missouri?
- Reach Out To a Theft/Larceny Attorney in St. Louis, MO Today at Combs Law Group
Combs Law Group is here to provide all our St. Louis, MO clients guidance and support throughout the legal process. We understand that sometimes people are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We work to understand your circumstances and utilize this information to get you the best possible outcome for your St. Louis larceny case. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to speak with one of our attorneys and schedule a free review of your case.
What Are Some Examples of Theft/Larceny Crimes in St. Louis and Missouri?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines larceny-theft as the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. According to the bureau, more than 25 percent of these crimes happen from a motor vehicle.
The FBI’s examples of thefts include:
- Thefts of bicycles
- Thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories
- Shoplifting
- Pocket-picking
- Stealing of any property or article that is not taken by force and violence or by fraud
What Are the Theft/Larceny Crime Penalties in St. Louis and Missouri?
The law in Missouri regarding theft and larceny is quite detailed. Punishments vary greatly depending on what was stolen, how much, and whether or not this is your first offense. Special punishment enhancements have also been passed to try and curb what lawmakers see as acute drug or violence problems. The most recent of these enhancements concerns the theft of anhydrous ammonia, commonly used to make methamphetamine. As of 2017, any theft of this substance is automatically a class B felony.
Here are some important details to remember regarding penalties for theft in St. Louis and Missouri:
- If the item stolen had a value of less than $150, and this was someone’s first offense, the accused is charged with a class D misdemeanor
- If the item stolen was an animal or the accused was found guilty of three previous stealing-related offenses over the past 10 years, the charge shall be a class E felony
- If the item stolen had a value of $750 or more, was a car, credit or debit card, or a firearm, the accused is charged with a class D felony
- If the item stolen had a value of more than $25,000, the accused will be facing class C felony
- All other theft crimes are considered class A misdemeanors.
Punishments for those convicted of larceny in St. Louis and throughout Missouri vary as well, from a fine of $500 and probation for class D misdemeanor theft all the way up to 3-10 years in state prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for those convicted of Class C felony theft charges.
How Can a Theft and Larceny Lawyer in St. Louis, MO Help Me?
We understand that good people find themselves in bad situations. Combs Law’s St. Louis, MO theft and larceny defense team is dedicated to defending our clients’ rights and achieving the best possible solution for them. As part of our legal representation, we will:
- Listen to your side of the story
- Conduct a full investigation into the theft charges against you, the nature of the allegations, and the incident in question
- Help you understand the charges and evidence against you
- Work with you to develop a legal defense strategy
- Determine if your Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment or Sixth Amendment rights were violated
- Examine witness reliability
- Look for inconsistencies in the accuser’s story
- Negotiate with prosecutors to have your charges reduced or dismissed
- Defend you at trial if we have to, and challenge the jury on whether or not the prosecution has proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt
We’ll pursue every legal avenue to eliminate the legal consequences of the charges against you in St. Louis, or severely limit them. But if the evidence is stacked against you, or you made a terrible mistake you regret, we’ll still represent you and work to get the best possible resolution for you, your loved ones, and your future. Call Combs Law Group right away at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online.
What Are Some Defense Strategies For Theft/Larceny Charges in St. Louis and Missouri?
The criminal defense attorneys at Combs Law Group have years of experience defending clients in St. Louis and throughout Missouri. Every case is different, each one with varying specifics that could alter a defense strategy, but some common defenses to theft/larceny include:
- Belief of Ownership or Right
- Entrapment
- Duress
You aren’t accused of larceny by taking your own property, so if you have a good-faith belief that you own a piece of property or have a right to use it we may have a good larceny defense. This could be the case even if your belief is false or unreasonable.
Entrapment occurs when someone induces you, an innocent party, to commit a crime that you normally wouldn’t have committed. In order to claim entrapment, you must not have had any prior inclination to commit the crime, and must do so only on the enticement of the entrapping party. For example, if a police officer sets up a car with the keys in the ignition and just waits for someone to come up and attempt to steal it, no entrapment has taken place. However, if that police officer points out the car to you and encourages you to steal the car, you would have a strong argument in support of an entrapment defense.
You can claim that someone else forced you to commit theft or larceny through threats of force, blackmail, etc. If you can provide sufficient proof for this claim, the prosecution or jury may find that you did not act voluntarily and should bear no responsibility for the crime.
Reach Out To a Theft/Larceny Attorney in St. Louis, MO Today | Combs Law Group
It has been proven time and time again that those who do not have a reputable St. Louis and Missouri criminal defense lawyer end up receiving the least desirable outcomes in their theft cases. Prosecutors usually offer them worse plea deals that mean they will have a felony on their record for the rest of their lives. This changes someone’s life dramatically. People convicted of a felony can no longer vote, must disclose their conviction to all future employers or landlords, and cannot legally possess a firearm.
Choosing Combs Law Group ensures that you not only work with a criminal defense law firm in St. Louis, MO that will zealously fight on your behalf, but also will honestly and regularly communicate with you throughout the legal process. Our firm prides itself on the fact that our clients always speak with an attorney about their case, not a paralegal or assistant. We have helped many people across the St. Louis, MO area minimize the damage criminal charges can have on their lives and allow them to put these difficult experiences behind them. Contact us or call (314) 900-HELP today for more information or to schedule a consultation.