The State of Michigan is no stranger to theft and property crime. Statistics show that Michigan citizens have a 1 in 43 chance of becoming a victim of property crime. In New Baltimore, however, the risk of property crime is slightly less, and citizens face a 1 in 174 chance of becoming a victim of property crime. This is a relief for citizens in New Baltimore, but because of the higher state averages and strong deterrents for property crime, being accused of theft and property crime can carry the possibility of heavy penalties. The New Baltimore 42nd District Court also doesn’t take property and theft crimes lightly. Fortunately, if you’ve been accused or charged with a crime, the theft and property crime attorneys at Grabel & Associates fully believe in the Constitutional principle that you are completely innocent until proven guilty.
After being arrested of a property crime, including theft, burglary, larceny, forgery, home invasion, and so forth, the entire situation can be stressful and even frightening. How will the community think of me? Will I go to jail? Since 1999, our theft and property crime attorneys have worked one-on-one with thousands of defendants accused of property crimes. In other words, we’ve seen it all. We’ve worked with a client who was accused of embezzling thousands from his employer. The charges in this case were never filed. We’ve worked with a client who was accused of stealing copper from a house. In this case, the charges were dismissed.
No matter your charge, we are fully prepared to give you the strongest defense in accordance with State and Federal laws. If accused or charged with a crime, however, it is crucially important to not panic. The first thing you should do is contact our New Baltimore property crime attorneys for an emergency consultation at 1-800-342-7896. Even if you haven’t been charged yet, but you have been accused, we need to start building a strong defense right away. After contacting our Macomb County attorneys, if possible, continue reading below to better understand theft and property crime in New Baltimore, MI.
Theft and property crime comprises a wide variety of charges, many of which carry different punishments. The Michigan Penal Code, under Chapter LII: Larceny and including Section 750.356 to 750.367c, defines theft and property crimes as larceny by stealing money, goods, a book of accounts, receipts, scrap metal, and writs. Chapter LII also defines theft of motor vehicles, retail fraud in the first and second degrees, larceny of livestock, larceny by conversion, larceny from libraries, theft of motor fuel, and embezzlement.
The penalties vary, depending on the crime, from misdemeanor to felony. For example, under Section 750.356 regarding theft, a person who steals money, bank notes, receipts, etc, could be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for no more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $15,000 or three times the valuable of the property stolen, whichever is greater. Both imprisonment and a fine could occur as well. A person found guilty of retail fraud in the second or third degree could face by no more than a year in prison or a fine of not more than $2,000 or three times the value of stolen goods.
Because of this wide field, and the fact that punishments vary based on the amount stolen and other factors, a theft and property crime attorney is essential to helping you fully understand what’s at stake.
If you’ve been falsely accused of a crime in New Baltimore, Macomb County, or throughout Michigan, you need an attorney who represents you while under investigation, during the trial, and in the post-conviction stages. Because of the nature of these crimes, many courts, including the 42nd District, tend to rely on eyewitness testimony. Unfortunately for many individuals, eyewitness testimony is the leading cause of wrongful convictions. Therefore, one of the actions we take includes rigorous and diligent investigation of the case and of witnesses to keep you safe from harsh criminal penalties. Continue reading about eyewitness misidentification and then contact us so that we can start building an aggressive defense.
In addition to protecting you from false identification, the theft and property crime attorneys at Grabel & Associates will commit ample time to all factors of your case. This includes evaluating police procedures to ensure that none of your rights have been violated. If police or prosecutors have used aggressive tactics to cause you to incriminate yourself, we have a wide network of professional resources, including psychologists and other law enforcement officials, who can show to the judge and jury how these tactics lead to false confessions or other incriminating statements.
From the investigation stages to after the conviction, our lawyers will stick with you. Using a compassionate ear, we’ll put your concerns at the front of our defense strategies.
Our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Therefore, the moment you have been accused or charged with a crime, we’re available to provide consul or to start building your case. You will not be left alone in the dark, traversing these frightening waters alone. Contact us, or call us toll free, at 1-800-342-7896 to speak with an experience theft and property crime attorney about your charges and your legal options. Additionally, you can contact our offices by email to arrange a free consultation.