Every year, individuals from all walks of life are charged with theft. The motivations for crimes of this type can be diverse. Moreover, there are many different types of theft charges. Whatever the circumstances are surrounding your theft allegations, hiring a criminal defense attorney is a smart move.
Under Colorado’s laws, theft involves obtaining, exercising control over, or retaining anything of value that belongs to someone else. Theft occurs when this is done with the knowledge that you have no claim to these items or authority over the valuable property. Theft may involve burglary, shoplifting, or robbery. § 18-4-401.
Have you been charged with the crime of theft in Colorado? Theft convictions are serious and could have a negative impact on your life for years to come. As such, it is highly recommended that you retain the services of a qualified legal theft defense expert as soon as possible. If you need a theft defense lawyer in Denver, Colorado, contact the attorneys at Koziel & Lehr Law LLC right away.
About The Theft Laws in Colorado
The courts of Colorado take charges of theft seriously. Offenders could face penalties including fines, probation, restricted access to certain locations, and time spent in jail.
Theft crimes span a wide range of legal levels with varying consequences. With Colorado theft allegations, misdemeanor, municipal, petty, or even felony-level charges or convictions are possible. Theft laws in Colorado can be found under Colorado Revised Statutes Title 18, Criminal Code § 18-4-401.
Theft laws in Colorado can be complicated and cover a range of behaviors. Illicit theft-related crimes may include shoplifting, employees theft, vehicle theft, and more. The commonality with all of these theft charges is that they involve taking something of value, knowingly, without due legal authority.
Basically, if you take something that doesn’t belong to you, and if you know that you don’t have a right to take that thing, you may be charged with theft per Colorado statutes. Being charged and convicted of theft in Colorado can leave you with many problems.
If charged with theft, you may even face limited job prospects. Employers may not hire a person who has been convicted of that. Moreover, you could face steep fines, jail time, and other life-altering consequences. This is why it is so important to have skillful legal representation on your side.
How do theft charges work in Denver, Colorado?
In a lot of cases, theft charges occur after you have removed property without lawful authority. Property may include an item of clothing, jewelry, a car, or anything else of value. However, an item doesn’t necessarily need to leave the property or even be in your possession with certain theft charges.
If you pick up an item, transfer it, or deprive the owner of it in some way, you can still be charged with theft. This is true even if that item is no longer in your possession or was only in your possession temporarily.
Theft charges are determined by the value of any items stolen. For example, you may be charged with a Class 1 petty theft offense if the value of the item you took is less than $300. However, if the value of the items stolen is over a million dollars, you could be charged with a Class 2 felony offense. § 18-4-401.
From these reference points, charges can range in severity and may be applied in various ways. Whether you will be convicted and penalized for those charges will depend on various factors and your legal defense strategy.
What is the difference between fraud and theft in Colorado?
The terms theft and fraud are commonly confused as they are used interchangeably in our society. Under Colorado law, however, theft is a criminal offense itself and carries its own penalties.
What factors could determine the severity of theft charges in Colorado?
Various factors could be used to determine the severity of your theft charges and any potential convictions as a result. For instance, the type of theft must be considered. Whether you used a weapon when committing theft will also be considered. Using a weapon in a situation where illegal theft is taking place may cause you to receive aggravated charges. Aggravated theft charges are more severe than standard theft charges.
To find out what other factors may influence your charges, it is important to contact a qualified defense attorney. Your theft defense lawyer will be able to tell you what could influence your charges and which legal strategies might work to get your charges dropped or reduced.
Factors That the Authorities Will Consider:
- Circumstances surrounding theft
- Type of theft
- Previous theft charges
- If a weapon was used
- Value of items stolen
What are the penalties for conviction of theft in Colorado?
The penalties for theft convictions in Colorado vary greatly. Charges and convictions can range from petty to felony. Petty charges may come with a fine while felony charges may require you to go to prison. It will all depend on the circumstances surrounding your charges and whether or not you are convicted.
As you can see, determining what your penalties could be can get complicated. If the amount that you stole is under $2,000, your charges will probably fall into a misdemeanor or petty category. However, if the value of an item or the items stolen is above $2,000, you could be charged with a Class 6 felony offense. § 18-4-401.
In Colorado, what types of theft could you be charged with?
Theft charges occur in many ways. Employee theft is when an employee takes money or property that does not belong to them. Theft by receiving happens when a person retains, receives, or disposes of property that is stolen. Embezzlement involves the misappropriation of funds involving an employer. Aggravated theft involves stealing something with a weapon.
Common Types of Theft
- Shoplifting
- Employee theft
- Second-degree motor vehicle theft
- First-degree motor vehicle theft
- Credit card theft
- Mail theft
- Theft of rental property
- Theft by receiving
- ID or internet theft
- Embezzlement
- Aggravated motor vehicle theft
Get Aggressive, Skilled Representation for Theft Charges in Colorado!
If you have been charged with theft in Colorado, there are many reasons that you should work with an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you accept a guilty plea to avoid going to jail, your troubles will not necessarily end.
Do not face theft charges in Colorado alone. Contact Koziel & Lehr Law LLC today for a consultation at (720) 314-8750.