THEFT & SHOPTLIFTING

In Maryland, theft is defined as the willful use, concealment, or abandonment of property of another, without the owner’s consent. Maryland does not differentiate between someone who took the property and someone who received the property, so even the receiver of stolen goods can be charged with theft, provided they knew or should have known that the goods were stolen. Passing bad checks (uttering) is also included in the Maryland statute. Theft is divided up into several different categories in Maryland depending on the value of the goods that were allegedly stolen.

If you have been charged with any type of theft case, from a minor shoplifting up to a major robbery or burglary, it’s important that you speak with an attorney who knows these cases and knows how to handle them. There are a number of different defenses that can be used, depending on the circumstances. Feel free to contact my office for a complimentary consultation at 301-875-3472 today to speak about your theft case.

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FELONY THEFT

Anything over $1,000 is considered a felony. If the value of the stolen goods is over $100,000, the crime is a felony which carries a maximum of 25 years in prison. Between $10,000 and $100,000, the maximum is 15 years. Between $1,000 and $10,000 the maximum is 10 years. Motor vehicle theft is also a felony which carries a maximum of 5 years.

MISDEMEANOR THEFT

Theft of goods under $1,000 is a misdemeanor crime in Maryland. The maximum penalty is 18 months in jail, unless the theft is under $100 in which the maximum is only 90 days.

SHOPLIFTING

In order to prove a shoplifting case, the State must show that the defendant possessed the goods and had taken them past all points of purchase in the store. Further, in order to convict someone at trial the State must present a witness representative of the store to prove the case–there cannot be a crime without a victim. There are other possible defenses to these cases, particularly where there may be exculpatory video caught by the store’s cameras, or where someone is accused to be in a theft scheme with another party who was carrying the goods. Further, in a number of shoplifting cases I have been successful with negotiating deals with the prosecution where my clients take a theft diversion class or complete community service in order to avoid having a conviction.

“NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW AND NO MAN BELOW IT.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

Our Professional Services Include:

Criminal Defense – We represent persons charged with any kinds of misdemeanor and felony charges.
DUI/DWI Defense – Representation in court for DUI/DWI cases and in MVA or DMV license suspension hearings.
Traffic Defense – Representation for traffic citations such as driving suspended, driving without a license, speeding, or any other infraction.
Criminal Appeals – Post-conviction representation at Circuit Court or Appellate Court.
Personal Injury – We represent persons injured by others in motor vehicle or other accidents.
Where We Practice – Representation in the District Court and Circuit Court in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.

Issues That May Arise in Criminal Court:

We will discuss these issues in depth during our meetings.

CONTACT ME FOR A CONSULTATION REGARDING YOUR CASE

Whatever your case is, big or small, I can help you. I’m an experienced Maryland and DC criminal defense attorney who has helped out many individuals in similar or worse predicaments. Call me today for a free consultation at (301) 875-3472. Don’t hesitate because there may be some proactive or remedial steps we can take in your case before going to court, or there may be witnesses we need to locate, or evidence in your favor that needs to be preserved before it is lost. Not to mention the sooner we begin working on your case, the sooner you can have some piece of mind that you have an attorney working for your best interests and protecting your rights.