SALT LAKE CITY THEFT CRIMES DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Theft crimes embody a series of illegal actions which share one particular similarity: the unauthorized seizure of another individual’s property.  In the State of Utah, theft is broken down into four different categorizations, based strictly on the value of that which was stolen.  These categories are as follows:

● Theft of property valued up to $499 – Class B Misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine).
● Theft of property valued between $500 and $1,499 – Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine).
● Theft of property valued between $1,500 and $4,999 – Third Degree Felony (up to 5 years in jail and a $5,000 fine).
● Theft of property valued at $5,000 and above – Second Degree Felony (up to 15 years in jail and a $10,000 fine).

As with any other criminal charge, these categories can be modified further by the addition of “aggravated” or “attempted,” which raise and lower the level of charge, respectively.  Regardless of what category of theft a defendant has been charged with, however, it is essential that competent criminal defense be retained for the case.

Theft cases are invariably complex, and there is always a great deal of room for exaggeration.  In some cases, police may overreact to an accident and charge it as theft, or the “victim” of the theft may overestimate the value of the item stolen.  At The Law Office of Haynes & Fuelling, we carefully scrutinize every aspect of a theft case to ensure that such that a fair judgment is offered, regardless of what the initial allegations are.  Contact our office now to learn more.

When retained for a new case, our first efforts are directed toward rescheduling the client’s court date to fit the client’s scheduling needs, wherever possible.  Our legal team works hand-in-hand with court clerks across the state, and we can generally secure a new court date within 24 hours.

Once an acceptable date has been set for the hearing, we go to work investigating the prosecution’s case.  Our attorneys tirelessly scrutinize the details of the case, ensuring that the police did not overreact to the situation, that they had reliable witnesses, that no constitutional rights were violated, and so on.  If any weakness exists in the prosecution’s case, we identify them, and when found we use them to minimize the consequences of being charged criminally.

If the prosecution proves unwilling to offer a reasonable agreement - if not dismiss the case outright - we begin to prepare for trial.  Keeping the client informed of each development, we secure expert witnesses, prepare transcripts for evidence, hire private investigators, and more.  Regardless of the difficulties of the case, we present a formidable and informed defense throughout the trial process, up to and including sentencing.

Finally, if a sentence is imposed, we present the clients with all of the options which they still have available to them, from appealing the sentence to a higher court, to clearing the client's records through expungement.  We never consider a case ‘closed,’ until every avenue of defense and recovery have been exhausted.

CONTACT A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION