If you recently discovered you were under investigation for a theft crime or were taken into police custody on suspicion of committing a theft offense, you are going to need a powerful legal advocate on your side.
Although theft may not seem like one of the more serious criminal offenses you could be charged with, at the felony level, penalties could be devastating. Your trial-proven Peoria theft crimes lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices is here to help you present a powerful defense strategy if your case goes to trial.
More than that, we are here to help you protect your rights. Your Peoria criminal defense lawyer can help you whether you are seeking mercy after making a mistake or are innocent of the allegations against you. We are available 24/7 when you need us, so do not hesitate to contact our law office to request a confidential consultation immediately.
Arizona Sentencing Guidelines for Theft Crimes
The Arizona Criminal Code Sentencing Provisions describe the general penalties based on the type of theft crime you are accused of committing and the value of the stolen goods or services.
Since theft can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony under ARS § 13-1802, the greater the value of the stolen goods or services, the more serious the consequences.
For example, if you were charged with a low-level misdemeanor for stealing a piece of jewelry worth less than $250, you could be facing up to 30 days in jail and as much as $500 in fines.
However, if you are charged with a class three felony because the property stolen is worth between $4,000 and $25,000, you could be looking at up to seven years in prison. You could also be expected to pay fines as high as $150,000 plus additional surcharges.
But that is not all. Depending on the level of the charges against you, you could also be sentenced to probation once you complete jail or prison term.
If you are placed on probation, there are specific requirements you must meet while you are still completing your sentence, such as completing a specific number of community service hours, attending group therapy or mental health counseling, completing a drug or alcohol treatment program, and more.
Collateral Consequences
Those are just the criminal penalties. Every aspect of your life will continue to be affected by your conviction. You could lose your job, have your professional license suspended, be at risk for immigration issues, and have trouble rebuilding your life with a criminal conviction on your background check.
You might have thought you could put your conviction behind you and start over once you completed your sentence. However, collateral consequences ensure you are constantly reminded of this difficult time in your life. For this reason, clearing your name should be at the top of your list of priorities.
Theft Crimes May Qualify for Expungement
You might be thinking you can put the trauma of this experience behind you sooner by pleading guilty and getting your criminal record sealed. However, if you plead guilty, you are not eligible for expungement.
Your Peoria burglary defense lawyer with Suzuki Law Offices will need to carefully review the details to determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements as described under ARS § 13-911, which include:
- Have no open cases or pending charges
- Have no criminal convictions on your record for at least two years from your original conviction
- Have completed the terms of your sentence, including probation, court fees, and other requirements
- Allow the waiting period to pass
Not all theft crimes will be eligible for expungement. For instance, your Peoria theft crimes lawyer may not be able to get your record expunged if you were accused of using a deadly or dangerous weapon in the commission of an armed robbery as described under ARS § 13-105(13).
With a conviction on your record, you may not be able to find employment in certain industries, have trouble maintaining a close relationship with your children or family, and face other collateral consequences.
Find Out Whether the Statute of Limitations Has Expired
It may surprise you to find yourself facing criminal charges if several years have passed since the date of the alleged offense. Your Peoria theft crimes attorney will carefully review the charges against you to determine whether the statute of limitation has already expired. The prosecutor does not have an unlimited amount of time to file charges for any type of criminal offense.
The Arizona criminal time limitations vary depending on the level of the charges against you. If the value of the property or services that were allegedly stolen is under $1,000, you could be facing misdemeanor theft charges. However, the statute of limitations for a misdemeanor offense is one year from the date of the alleged incident.
Likewise, if you are accused of stealing property that is valued at more than $1,000, felony charges will apply. The prosecutor has up to seven years from the date of the alleged theft as described under ARS § 13-107 to file charges. If they fail to do so or attempt to file once the statute of limitations has already passed, the charges against you should be dismissed.
Connect With a Premier Theft Crimes Lawyer in Peoria for Help Today
With the right criminal defense strategy, you may be able to put the embarrassment of your theft charges behind you sooner. If we cannot get the charges against you dismissed, working out a plea with the prosecutor could be the next best option.
However, your dedicated theft crimes attorney in Peoria is not afraid to defend your case at trial if that is what it takes to protect your future.
Suzuki Law Offices is passionate about client advocacy. We will stop at nothing to get our clients the justice they deserve. When you are ready to take charge of your criminal defense strategy and prevent the criminal justice system from further victimizing you, do not hesitate to fill out our online contact form or call our office to schedule a confidential consultation.
Call or text (602) 682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form