Theft And Petty Theft

At our Boise law firm, Martens Law Office, P.C., attorney Jared B. Martens aggressively defends our clients in all types of criminal matters, including fraud and theft crimes. His defense strategy is simple: he stands up and fights to protect the rights and freedom of his clients.

Our firm represents clients accused of property crimes, including:

• Theft
• Fraud
• Burglary
• Car theft
• Robbery
• Grand Theft
• Forgery
• Shoplifting
• Petty theft
• Internet fraud and ID theft
• Receipt and possession of stolen property

Petty Theft

If you or your child is charged with shoplifting, willful concealment, petty theft or burglary, it may seem easier to plead guilty, pay a fine and forget the matter than to fight the charge.

Before making that irreversible decision, contact an attorney and find out what your legal rights are, and what the long-term consequences of a guilty plea might be.

At our firm, attorney Martens provides those accused of petty theft, including shoplifting or willful concealment, with aggressive defense representation. It is not unusual for a customer to be charged with petty theft or willful concealment for carrying an object in a pocket on the way to the checkout counter, or for theft charges to result from another misunderstanding. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft, Mr. Martens is often able to get charges dismissed or reduced. He may negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecuting attorney. If a client does plead guilty, he will work with the court to find a favorable sentencing option, such as a conditional dismissal upon completion of an anti-theft class and payment of restitution.

While petty theft and willful concealment are considered misdemeanors and fairly minor crimes in the grand scheme of things, it is vitally important that you do not go without the proper level of dynamic defense from a skilled Boise petty theft or willful concealment attorney. Without the right amount of assistance, you could very well be facing fines up to $1,000 and a year of imprisonment in county jail for a petty theft charge and up to a $ 1,000 fine and six months in county jail for a willful concealment charge. While not as severe as the consequences associated with grand theft or burglary, neither should they be taken lightly.

While many theft crimes are defined as the actual taking of a piece of property that does not belong to you, in terms of burglary, merely entering the building with the intention to commit any crime inside that building is enough to be charged with this type of crime. According to Idaho law, if you have entered into a home, building, structure, or vehicle with the intention of committing theft (or other crime), then you have committed the crime of burglary. Punishments for successful convictions of this type of crime are extremely serious and may include between one year and 10 years spent in the Idaho State Penitentiary.

It is extremely important to mount a strong defense against any theft charge — a person who has several previous petty theft convictions within a few years’ time could be charged with grand theft and subject themselves to a long prison term and a heavy fine if convicted.

Grand Theft Felony Charges

There are two primary distinctions between grand theft and petty theft — the definition of the offense, and the penalties faced by the accused if convicted. At Martens Law Office, P.C., our criminal defense attorney often demonstrates that a charge of grand theft is not justified and negotiates a reduced charge or outright dismissal.

In Idaho, grand theft is a serious felony charge. A convicted person might face up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Theft is charged as grand theft based on the intent of the accused person or on the amount stolen.

As a skilled defense lawyer, Mr. Martens will often challenge the basis for a grand theft or burglary charge. If the charge was based on intent to steal, he will demand that the prosecuting attorney prove the accused intended to steal when entering the retail store. In cases of auto theft or theft of other goods, he will challenge the stated value of the items.

Petty theft automatically becomes grand theft if the person has two previous theft convictions within the previous five years. It is extremely important to mount an aggressive defense against any criminal charge, to avoid serious long-term consequences.

Martens Law Office, P.C., has weekend and evening appointments available, offers free initial consultations, and accepts credit cards. If you would like to speak with attorney Jared Martens about defense against a shoplifting, burglary, willful concealment or petty theft charge, please contact our firm and arrange a free consultation. Our lawyer and staff are committed to providing responsive and attentive client service. We can be reached at 208-435-1132.