The crime of Grand Theft in California is the unlawful taking of someone’s belongings or property valued at over $950.
Grand Theft, PC 487 is a “wobbler” in California; it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony at the prosecutor’s discretion.
— A felony charge carries a maximum prison time of three (3) to seven (7) years, depending on the value of what has been taken.
— A misdemeanor charge of grand theft carries a maximum sentence of one (1) year in the county jail.
To be convicted of Grand Theft Penal Code 487 by Larceny, the prosecutor must prove the following:
The value must amount to $950.00 or greater. If the value is less than $950.00, then it is a petty theft charge, or PC 484. Also, if you stole someone else’s car or firearm, you will be charged for Grand Theft, regardless of the value.
Another form of Grand Theft is Grand Theft by False Pretense. To be convicted of Grand Theft Penal Code 487 by False Pretense, the prosecutor must prove the following:
To be convicted of Grand Theft Penal Code 487 by Trick, the prosecutor must prove you did the following:
Again, Grand Theft PC 487 in California is a wobbler. It can be tried as either a misdemeanor or a felony; it depends on the specific details of the case and your criminal record.
If the crime of Grand Theft Penal Code 487 is tried as a misdemeanor, you face up to one (1) year in county jail.
If the crime of Grand Theft Penal Code 487 is tried as a felony, you face up to three (3) years in state prison.
If you used a gun during the offense, then the crime of Grand Theft Penal Code 487 is automatically tried as a felony.
The prosecution approaches each Grand Theft California Penal Code PC 487 case independently because there are many different ways to commit the crime; as the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.”
The most common type of Grand Theft PC 487 is Larceny, meaning you physically take another person’s property. As previously mentioned above, there are four different types of Grand Theft charges:
To be prosecuted for Grand Theft – CA Penal Code PC 487, the prosecution must prove that you sufficiently performed each of the elements of the crimes. If the prosecutor cannot prove within a reasonable doubt that you committed each element of the crime, then you will not be charged with Grand Theft Penal Code 487.
Grand Theft – CA Penal Code PC 487 crimes vary significantly from case to case. There are only a few common strategies that your criminal defense attorney will explore before looking into the specifics of your case.
The first element of the crime that your attorney will investigate is whether you intended to steal someone’s property. For each Grand Theft Penal Code 487 crime, the intent is a mandatory facet, meaning if you did not intend to steal someone else’s property, you are not guilty of the crime. If, for instance, you accidentally picked up a purse that looked identical to yours and walked away with it, then you are not guilty of Grand Theft PC 487. Suppose your attorney can prove to the jury or the prosecutor before trial that you didn’t intend to steal anything and were only acting absent-mindedly. In that case, you will not be convicted.
Next, your attorney will try to prove that you took the property because you thought it was yours. California protects its citizens with the “Claim of Right Defense;” this essentially states that if you took something with a good faith belief that it was yours, you could not be convicted. However, if you took something that you thought was yours and then tried to conceal the “stolen” property, then the “Claim of Right Defense” is no longer applicable.
Your attorney will then look into whether or not you had consent to take or borrow the property. If you used someone else’s property in the way they intended you to do so, then you will not be convicted of Grand Theft PC 487. However, if you acted in a way that they did not consent, you can be charged with the crime.
For example, suppose you were given consent to borrow your boss’s truck to move furniture for him and then bring it back immediately. However, after moving the furniture, you decide to take the truck and drive for several hours and run errands for yourself. This could be tried as Grand Theft PC 487 because you used your boss’s property outside of the consent he initially gave you.
Finally, your attorney will ensure that you are not a victim of false accusations or mistaken identity. If your attorney can prove that you are not the guilty perpetrator, you will not be found guilty. This defense is often used when business deals fail, and one partner wants to harm the other partner.
If you or a loved one is being charged with PC 484, we invite you to contact us immediately for a free case review. Schedule an appointment to meet with us in person, or feel free to submit an evaluation online and we will get in contact with you ASAP. We can provide a free consultation with our experienced and assiduous Criminal Defense Attorneys who will be sure to fight until the end to reduce or drop your charges completely.
Call LAW MART for a FREE Case Review: 310-894-6440
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