At Patituce & Associates, LLC, we help individuals who are charged with various crimes, including theft offenses. We have more than 70 years of combined legal experience and a team full of former prosecutors. These unique characteristics give us insight into how the other side works and how to attack their case against you. We are effective at identifying the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and attacking that vulnerability. If you’ve been charged with theft, contact our Columbus theft crimes attorney today.
How Our Columbus Theft Defense Lawyers Can Help You
If you are facing theft-related charges, our Columbus theft defense lawyers can help by:
- Explaining the charges and consequences to you – We can safeguard your interests by ensuring that you understand the nature of the charges against you and the possible consequences. A conviction could mean imprisonment of six months to ten years and a criminal record that follows you around for the rest of your life.
- Challenging the evidence against you – We can carefully analyze the facts and evidence against you and determine if there is a legal basis to file a motion to suppress evidence of dismiss charges.
- Investigating possible defenses – We can also investigate possible defenses to the charges against you, such as a misidentification, mistake, or misunderstanding.
- Fighting to protect you at trial – While we can fight for a favorable plea agreement on your behalf, sometimes the best option is to go to trial where we can try to persuade the jury that the government has failed to meet its burden We can also negotiate for a plea agreement in exchange for reducing or dismissing charges against you.
Whether you choose to hire us or another lawyer, it is essential to hire an experienced Columbus criminal defense attorney who can mount a solid defense on your behalf.
Let us show you how we are different when you call us for a free and confidential case review at (440) 427-3860.
Cases Our Columbus Theft Crimes Lawyers Handle
Our Columbus theft crime defense lawyers have helped people facing many different theft charges, including:
Finding of Value of Stolen Property as Part of Verdict (O.R.C. 2913.61)
In Ohio theft and fraud cases, the defendant is charged based on the value of the property that was stolen. The fact-finder is required to determine the appropriate value of the stolen goods under this law. According to this law, several small thefts can be added together to equal a larger sum and therefore harsher offense and penalty. So, what a defendant may believe is only a misdemeanor offense could really be a felony offense.
Another aspect of this law is that if theft crimes are committed as part of the defendant’s relationship and the victims are elderly or disabled, the crimes can be prosecuted together, which can also result in harsher penalties.
Fifth Degree Felony Theft (O.R.C. 2913.71)
In some cases, a theft crime can be charged as a fifth degree felony, regardless of the property value. This is the case when any of the following are alleged to have been stolen:
- Credit cards
- Forged checks
- Motor vehicle license plates
- Blank forms for vehicle titles or driver’s licenses
Receiving Stolen Property
A person can be charged with a theft offense even if they were not directly involved with the offense if they are found in possession of stolen goods. To be convicted of this crime, the prosecution must prove the defendant knew or had reason to know that the property was stolen.
Other Theft Crimes
Other theft crimes that may be charged in Ohio include:
- Fraud charges, including telecommunications fraud, Medicaid fraud, insurance fraud, workers’ compensation fraud, defrauding creditors, defrauding a rental agency or hostelry, or identity fraud
- Unauthorized use of property, such as a computer, cable, telecommunication property, or vehicle
- Unlawful sale or use of property, such as an unauthorized cable television device or a telecommunications device
- Forgery or counterfeiting, such as forging identification cards, selling or distributing forged identification cards, or trademark counterfeiting
- Other theft crimes, including motion picture piracy, passing bad checks, misuse of credit cards, spamming, or securing writings by deception
Our Ohio criminal defense attorneys can aggressively mount a strong defense for your case.
Potential Penalties for Theft Crimes in Ohio
The penalties for a theft crime can vary tremendously from a misdemeanor to a serious felony. Many theft crimes are charged as fifth-degree felonies, which can result in incarceration of six to twelve months.
The theft of goods may be penalized based on the value of the goods in question, such as:
- Six months to one year for goods valued between $1,000 and $7,500
- Twelve months to eighteen months, fines, and restitution for goods valued between $7,500 and $149,000
- Up to five years in prison for goods valued between $150,000 and $749,000
- A prison sentence between two and eight years for goods valued at $750,000 to $1,500,000
- A prison sentence up to ten years for goods valued at more than $1,500,000
The charge of receiving stolen property is also based on the value of the property received. For example, property with a value less than $1,000 is considered a first-degree misdemeanor with a potential penalty up to six months. As the value of the property increases, the level of charges also increases.
Contact Us for Help Handling the Theft Charges You’re Facing
At Patituce & Associates, LLC, we are equipped to provide you a strong defense from former prosecutors for any theft, fraud, or conspiracy charges. We know what is at stake and will work diligently to eliminate or mitigate the consequences of a conviction. We are ready to fight for your freedom and protect your rights. Contact us today at (440) 427-3860 for a free and confidential consultation.