When compared with violent crimes, theft offenses may not seem that serious. However, they are among the most common offenses regularly prosecuted in Nebraska. A variety of scenarios can lead to the allegations.
Embezzlement and shoplifting are both forms of theft. The severity of the charges brought against an individual and the penalties that the courts might impose depend in part on the unique circumstances surrounding the theft allegations.
What details may enhance the charges or penalties that a person faces when they have been accused of theft crimes?
1. The value of the assets
The difference between a misdemeanor and felony theft offense is often the total value of the property involved. Typically, theft offenses become felony crimes when the aggregate value of all of the assets reaches $1,500.
2. Repeat offenses
People who are familiar with the threshold for felony theft offenses might commit a number of smaller theft crimes to avoid felony prosecution. State laws do allow prosecutors to combine the values of items misappropriated in multiple separate offenses.
3. The use of violence or weapons
Theft offenses are property crimes, but they sometimes involve violence or the threat of violence. The use of a weapon to threaten individuals during a mugging or store workers during a robbery could lead to more serious charges. Actually injuring someone in a strong-arm robbery could also aggravate the charges brought against the defendant.
Learning about the law and reviewing the allegations made by the state can help defendants accused of theft crimes choose the best defense strategy. Those with appropriate legal guidance can sometimes avoid a conviction when accused of a serious theft crime or may be able to negotiate a plea bargain that reduces the charges or the penalties at issue.