Oceanside Theft Crime Defense Lawyers

Defending Oceanside Theft Crimes

Theft crimes in Oceanside are a common offense. In Oceanside, theft crimes are sometimes committed by good people who made a mistake or are innocent altogether. Oceanside is a city on the south coast of California and is known for its striking Harbor beach. Compared to other cities in California, crime in Oceanside is relatively high, with the chance of becoming a victim of violent crime being 1 in 44.

jD Law Criminal Defense Attorneys legal team is headed by Attorney James N. Dicks, a former police officer and narcotics investigator. Because of this, we know the system inside out and how to appropriately defend you, regardless of what theft charges you are facing. Call us at (760) 630-2000 today.

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Common Theft Crimes in Oceanside

Common theft crimes in Oceanside include petty theft, grand theft, burglary, and fraud. Other charges include more specific offenses such as mail fraud, identity fraud, and forgery.

Petty theft is a misdemeanor, and grand theft can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts of the case. Burglary (Penal Code 459 PC) is a felony and occurs when a person breaks into or enters a property with the intent to commit a theft or felony.

Theft crimes also include forgery (Penal Code 470 PC) which is charged when you sign someone else's name, forge their handwriting, or alter or create a legal or financial document to commit fraud. Fraud is a general offense that is applied to other charges. Fraud is charged when the accused has used deception to unfairly benefit themselves and cause harm to others. Many types of fraud are felonies.

Other white-collar theft crimes include identity and mail theft. Identity theft (Penal Code 530.5 PC) is the taking of someone else's information to use unlawfully or fraudulently and is a felony. Mail theft (Penal code 530.5 PC) is charged if you have stolen, destroyed, hidden or opened another person’s mail. Mail theft is usually a misdemeanor in Oceanside.

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Theft Crime Penalties

Theft crimes in Oceanside can be charged as felonies or misdemeanors, with the charge directly affecting the penalty. In Oceanside, if the theft is of less than $50 worth of goods, a fine is often the only punishment for a first-time offense. If the offending is more serious, a conviction could range from a fine to a jail sentence of two years or more.

Proposition 47 was passed in 2014 by California voters and resulted in changing many theft crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. If you have been charged with a theft crime, you should speak to a lawyer right away. The result of a theft charge can be influenced by your attorney. Having your charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor can lead to reduced jail time and may negate other consequences such as being a registered felon.

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What Should You Do If You Are Accused of a Theft crime?

If you have been charged with a theft crime, you should contact an Oceanside theft defense attorney. The dedicated team at jD Law Criminal Defense Attorneys will fight for your rights at the earliest opportunity. We may be able to help you reduce or even have the charges dropped altogether, so that you can resume life without a criminal record.

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your arrest for theft, our Oceanside defense lawyers are prepared to help. Call us at (760) 630-2000 today.

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