Larceny is a serious crime under Virginia law, and the penalties can be unusually strict. Even a first offense larceny/shoplifting charge is a felony if the item stolen is valued at over $200. Any shoplifting or larceny charge of items worth under $200 is still a serious misdemeanor criminal charge.
If you made a mistake by stealing something impulsively or stupidly, and you want to fix it with minimal damage to your life, call our attorneys for advice on what we can do to help. Or if you are being unfairly accused, you need the best Virginia defense lawyer you can get.
Many people make these kinds of mistakes every day, but people deserve a second chance. We don’t judge our clients, we work to help you through the legal issues with the least damage possible. Call now at (888) 205-9314.
If you are facing larceny or grand larceny charges, please Contact us right away, and we’ll let you know exactly what I can do to help you. Call for your free legal consultation at (888) 205-9314.
What is Larceny under Virginia Criminal Law?
Larceny is the act of depriving someone of the use of, or otherwise stealing or theft of property, goods or money. Shoplifting in Virginia falls under Virginia larceny laws.
Different classes of larceny include:
- Grand Larceny: Theft of $200 or more (Felony)
- Petite Larceny: (Petty Larceny) Theft of less than $200 (Misdemeanor)
- Receiving Stolen Property: Felony ($200 and above) or Misdemeanor (less than $200)
- Theft of Services
- Writing Bad Checks
- Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle
Penalties for Shoplifting/Larceny
The penalty for larceny is entirely depending on the value of the goods or services stolen.
Larceny/Theft/Shoplifting of items valued at over $200 is a felony, with a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Larceny/Theft/Shoplifting of items valued at under $200 is a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of up to 1 year in jail.
Two prior offenses of misdemeanor larceny may make any subsequent offense a felony.
Can I Beat a Larceny Charge?
Yes. Challenges to larceny charges often center around the element of intent. Can the prosecution prove that you intended to steal something? I will make them prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the theft wasn’t accidental or a simple oversight.
In cases of receiving stolen property, the prosecutor must be able to prove that you knew that the items in question were stolen.
We can also challenge the value of the items taken. If I can convince the judge that the property was worth less than $200, it is only a misdemeanor charge with much less severe penalties.
I will always look for every opportunity to get charges reduced from grand larceny down to petty larceny.
In cases of petty shoplifting, Virginia has programs in place where the accused can often plead guilty in exchange for restitution (paying back the victim) and community service.
One of the significant benefits of these programs is an opportunity to keep your record clean. A permanent criminal record can impact you for the rest of your life, reduce your job opportunities, and cause potential embarrassment, whenever anyone performs an increasingly common background check on you.
If you are facing a shoplifting/larceny offense, find out how we can try to avoid a criminal record for you by calling us at (888) 205-9314.
Free Legal Case Evaluation and Consultation on Criminal Larceny Charges in VA
If you are accused of larceny/shoplifting/theft in the Commonwealth of Virginia, call anytime to schedule a no-obligation, no-risk, free consultation at (888) 205-9314. Our attorneys will help walk you through what you are facing, what your options are, and what we can do to help you.
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The Attorneys of VaCriminalDefenseLawyer.com