Maryland Felony Theft Lawyer

Maryland has a consolidated theft statute, which means all the different types of theft charges are together under one statute with different tiers. As defined by Maryland law, theft is considered the taking of property or services from another with the intention to deprive that person of the property or services permanently. Theft is a felony instead of a misdemeanor if the value of the property or services is equal to or greater than $1,500.

If you were accused of theft, you could benefit from the services of a dedicated felony theft attorney. People accused of theft are often concerned they do not have a chance in court against aggressive prosecutors, but a Maryland felony theft lawyer could help. Reach out to an experienced lawyer today to get started building a defense.

Penalties for Felony Theft

The penalties for felony theft are more severe than the penalties for misdemeanor theft. For misdemeanor theft, the maximum penalty is 18 months incarceration. If it is below $100, the maximum penalty is 90 days.

For felony theft, if the value of the property or services is equal to or greater than $1,500 but less than $25,000, the maximum penalty is five years. If it is between $25,000 and $100,000, the maximum penalty is 10 years. If it is above $100,000, the maximum penalty is 20 years.

Benefits of a Maryland Felony Theft Attorney

One of the benefits of working with an experienced Maryland felony theft attorney is that they are going to be familiar with the law. They are going to know what types of arguments would be successful. They should have experience in the local courthouse, familiarity with the judges and prosecutors, and know what types of arguments are effective. Once they collect all the information and investigate the case, they would know how to strategically and effectively communicate that information to the court, whether through motions or filings.

With certain prosecutors, it makes sense to reveal their hand by going to the prosecutor and discussing all the strengths and weaknesses in an attempt to get them to dismiss the case or agree to a plea to a less severe charge. With other prosecutors, the most effective strategy is to wait until trial, shortly before trial, or until a motion is filed to let information be revealed. It may be the most effective way to win the case. An experienced attorney is going to know what works and what does not. They would be able to use all that specific information in the person’s case to make the most effective arguments on behalf of the client.

First Steps an Attorney Could Take

The first steps a Maryland felony theft lawyer could take when they receive a new case would be to review the charging document. The attorney wants to discover exactly:

• What the state is alleging
• Who the alleged victim is
• What the alleged property and services are
• What the state is claiming to have happened

Next, the defense lawyer would want to speak with the defendant to get the defendant’s version of what did or did not happen to see how closely that aligns with the state’s allegation. Then, the defense attorney would start to develop an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the state’s case, what evidence the state may have, and what they may need to prove. The defense attorney would be able to start developing a strategy to attack the state’s case.

Let a Maryland Felony Theft Attorney be Your Advocate

A Maryland felony theft lawyer has the knowledge and experience needed to fight for clients in court. An attorney could analyze the details of your case and craft a defense tailored to your circumstances. Reach out today to schedule a consultation.