A Zealous Defense Against New Hampshire Theft Crimes
Theft crimes involve taking another person’s money or property without their consent. While these crimes are generally nonviolent, they still carry significant penalties that may have a detrimental effect on your life. Theft crimes often range from misdemeanors to felonies, which can hurt your chances of seeking jobs, higher education and much more.
Our experienced theft crimes defense attorneys at Goulden Law Offices, PLLC, know how to navigate these serious crimes. We represent clients throughout New Hampshire and will aggressively fight to protect your future from the charges against you.
Understanding New Hampshire Theft Crimes
Theft crimes are some of the most common crimes in New Hampshire, and there have been multiple thefts that fall under this category of criminal activity. New Hampshire identifies theft in the following offenses:
- Theft by taking: This involves taking someone’s property without permission and usually with the intent to deprive the owner of that property. This type of theft is also known as larceny or embezzlement.
- Theft by willful concealment: Shoplifting is one common example of this type of crime, where a person willfully conceals goods or merchandise in a store with the intent to leave the store with them. It can also include situations where a person transfers or removes the price tag on merchandise, transfers merchandise from its original packaging to another or gets the cash register to ring up the item at a lesser value than the original price.
- Theft by extortion: This involves securing someone else’s property through threats of harm to that person’s physical condition, their family, career or other means.
- Theft by deception: When a person is able to take someone else’s property through lies, trickery or other methods of deception.
- Receiving stolen property: If a person takes stolen property knowing that it was stolen, it is also considered a theft crime.
- Theft of services: A person may commit this type of theft crime by receiving services from someone else but refusing to provide compensation for those services.
- Theft of lost property: This involves taking someone’s lost property without the intention of attempting to return the property to the rightful owner.
Each of these types of theft crimes is classified as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the value, type of property or service that was involved in the crime. Misdemeanor theft crimes generally involve cases that have a value of $1,000 or less. Common consequences of misdemeanor theft crimes include a fine of up to $1,200 for a Class B misdemeanor and a jail term of one year and up to $2,000 in fines for a Class A misdemeanor.
Felony theft crimes often fall into two categories: Class A felony or Class B felony. Class A felonies include crimes where the value of stolen items is $1,500 or more and involve a stolen firearm, or the defendant used a deadly weapon other than a firearm during the crime. Class B felony theft includes crimes with a value of stolen items between $1,000 and $1,500 that involve extortion and the threat of physical harm or confinement; the property was stolen with the intent to resell; or the defendant has previously been convicted of two felonies or Class A misdemeanor thefts.
Class B felony theft crimes include penalties of up to seven years in jail and a maximum fine of $4,000, while Class A felonies include harsher sentences involving up to 15 years of jail time and a fine of $4,000.
Why You Need A Theft Crimes Defense Attorney
The consequences of a theft crime can completely upend your entire life. You can face serious jail time and a mark on your criminal record that can hurt your education, career and everyday life.
Our skilled theft crimes defense attorneys understand how challenging this situation must be for you. When you work with us, you work directly with one of our attorneys. We take great pride in providing tailor-made solutions for each of our clients and being easily accessible via phone whenever you need to discuss your case.
One of our attorneys is a retired police lieutenant and prosecutor, so we understand the New Hampshire justice system from the inside out and use that insight to help our clients better navigate this process. We’re dedicated to fighting for your legal rights and minimizing or dismissing the charges against you.
Consult With Our Nashua Theft Crimes Defense Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been charged with a serious theft crime, you need to talk to an attorney as soon as possible. Goulden Law Offices, PLLC, has successfully achieved not guilty verdicts and reduced charges for our clients and can help do the same for you.
Call 603-237-1105 today to schedule a consultation or email us online to get started.