What is the potential defense of a theft crime?
Theft defenses range from innocent mistake to intoxication to entrapment, but none are valuable if you don’t plead them in the right way at the right time. So if you’ve been charged with theft or another criminal offense, you should immediately contact an experienced, local defense lawyer.
What is the punishment for theft in Louisiana?
The lowest theft offense (property valued at less than $1,000) is a misdemeanor offense. The other offenses are felonies. For theft of property valued at less than $1,000, the offender can receive a sentence of imprisonment of not more than six months, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.
What is considered theft in Louisiana?
Misdemeanor and felony theft: Louisiana Revised Statute 14:67 defines theft as the misappropriation or taking of anything of value which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other or through fraud, with intent to permanently deprive the other.
Is theft over $500 a felony in Louisiana?
If the value of the alleged stolen property is $1000 or greater, the charge becomes a felony theft. If the value is between $1000 or more but less than $5000, the sentencing range is up to 5 years in prison. If the value is over $5000 or more but less than 25,000 the sentencing range is up to 10 years.
How can you tell if someone is shoplifting?
Other tell-tale signs of shoplifters include:
- Wearing large coats or baggy clothes.
- Avoiding eye contact.
- Watching the staff, not the merchandise.
- Seeking shelter in dressing rooms to stash smuggled merchandise.
- Lurking in corners.
- Taking advantage of stores during peak hours.
Is petty theft a felony?
Most petty theft convictions will fall under a state’s misdemeanor laws, which typically carry a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail (although some state’s misdemeanors carry up to two or three-year jail sentences). And in many states, repeat petty theft offenses can enhance the penalty to a felony.