Theft

“Theft” is defined in Indiana as “knowingly or intentionally exert[ing] unauthorized control over property of another person, with intent to deprive the other person of any part of its value or use . . . .” It doesn’t matter if it’s a $1.00 candy bar or a $10,000 diamond, it will be charged as a theft offense, which is a felony under Indiana law. Additionally, if you are found to be in possession of property that was alleged to have been stolen, whether you knew it was stolen or not, you may find yourself facing charges of Possession of Stolen Property, which is also a felony charge. A conviction for this type of offense is considered a “crime of dishonesty”, and can affect your ability to get a job in the future.

I can help.

If you have been accused of committing a theft offense, it may be possible to reduce the charges to a lesser-included misdemeanor charge so that you can avoid having a felony conviction on your record. If you have been accused of receiving stolen property, it is a defense that you were unaware that the property was stolen. Depending on the circumstances of how you came to possess the property, you may have had no actual notice that the property was stolen, and you may be able to avoid conviction by presenting evidence proving that fact.

People often get charged with theft when they have a momentary lapse in judgment, and temptation overcomes their common sense. There is no reason to allow that lapse in judgment to affect the rest of your life. You deserve an attorney who will not judge you, and will do everything possible to help put these charges behind you. If you have been charged with theft, call me immediately for your free consultation; it may be the most important call that you will ever make.