Whether you call it larceny, theft or robbery, if you get charged for taking something that doesn't belong to you, you could face some serious consequences. Before you decide to take on the case yourself and skip hiring a criminal lawyer, keep reading. To find you guilty of larceny in North Carolina, the State must prove the following:
- You took personal property in the possession of another
- You removed the property to another location
- You didn't have the possessor's permission
- Your intention was to deprive the possessor of their property permanently
- You have no rights or entitlement to that property
That criteria leaves a lot of room for misunderstandings, so being found guilty for larceny may mean you got what you deserved (or not!). Consider that larceny of property valued less than $1,000 is a Class 1 misdemeanor and larceny of property valued at more than $1,000 is a Class H felony. There's a big difference between the two charges such as the possibility of two years in jail for a Class H felony vs. a maximum of three months for a Class 1 misdemeanor. Keep in mind that any other convictions in your past will also have a bearing on how you may be charged. Fines and fees aside, do you really want to risk two years in jail because of a "misunderstanding" or a two dollar difference in the value of the property you are charged with stealing? There's a big difference between shoplifting a candy bar and auto theft, yet they both fall under the category of "larceny." So, if you find yourself charged with larceny, hiring an experienced attorney could help you avoid some life-changing consequences. While your larceny charge could seem like a minor infraction to you, a criminal defense attorney knows better. When you combine the "gray" areas of what the State must prove and the often thin line between misdemeanors and felonies, the risk of going it alone can be far greater than you may think. If you were charged with larceny, call The Law Offices of Jason H. Reece in Charlotte at 704-714-8888 or fill out this contact form for a free consultation.
