South Jersey Theft Charge Lawyer

A theft conviction on your record can have a devastating effect on your ability to earn a living. Many employers do not hire employees who have theft convictions. Our attorneys fight hard to resolve these cases without a conviction. Since theft is a non-violent crime, hard work by a criminal defense lawyer can often result in a disposition that does not involve a criminal record.

• Theft of under $200 is a disorderly person's offense, subject to a jail sentence of up to six months.

• Theft of $200 to $500 is a crime of the fourth-degree, and is punishable by up to eighteen months in state prison.

• Theft of $500 to $75,000 is a crime of the third-degree, and is punishable by up to five years in state prison.

• Theft of more than $75,000 is a crime of the second-degree, and is punishable by up to ten years in state prison.

Burglary (breaking and entering to commit a crime) and robbery (theft from a person using force or the threat of force) can raise the level of a theft crime to a third-degree or second-degree offense, regardless of the amount taken. If a weapon is employed in the course of a robbery, it is a first-degree crime punishable by twenty years in prison.

Theft from employers or embezzlement often starts with small amounts and then graduates over time to larger amounts of money. Embezzlement of more than $75,000, a second-degree crime, is not an uncommon crime in New Jersey and we have handled many of these cases. Often the money is used to support a gambling or drug addiction, or someone else's gambling or drug addiction. While the reason someone committed embezzlement can have a bearing on sentencing, it is not a defense unless coercion is used.

Theft crimes are often appropriate for the Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI). This program will divert your case from Superior Court. Instead of jail time, you will participate in rehabilitative services, such as community service. If you complete the program, the theft charge will be dismissed after a period of time ranging from six months to three years. In addition, you will not have a conviction on your record. This program is available on a one-time basis, generally to first-time offenders.

Free initial consultation: Contact an experienced New Jersey theft charge lawyer about your case. Lawyers are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, including holidays.