VIRGINIA THEFT & LARCENY LAWS

MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY CASES

IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS

Virginia Theft/Larceny Defense Lawyers – Former Prosecutors & Former Law Enforcement

If you are being charged with a Virginia theft offense, you need an experienced Virginia theft/larceny defense lawyer to defend you.  The SRIS, P.C. Virginia theft/larceny defense lawyers are former federal & Virginia state prosecutors & former Virginia law enforcement who defend clients charged with theft crimes in Virginia state courts or Virginia federal courts.

In Virginia, a theft/larceny crime can be either charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.  AVirginia petty larceny (petit larceny) is a class 1 misdemeanor.  Virginia grand larceny, Virginia credit card theft, Virginia embezzlement, etc felonies.

The SRIS, P.C. Virginia theft crimes defense lawyers know how to defend you because they have been on the “other side” and know what steps the prosecutor will take to convict you of a theft/larceny offense in Virginia.  Also, our theft crimes defense lawyers know what the differentVirginia theft/larceny laws require to make a conviction stick.  Do not face a Virginia theft/larceny charge without the benefit of an experienced Virginia larceny/theft defense attorney.  A conviction of a theft/larceny charge can affect your security clearance, your job, your immigration status, etc. A conviction for any type of theft crime or crime of larceny is deemed to be a conviction of moral turpitude.  Moral turpitude is any act that consists of lying, cheating or stealing.  For example,an employee (even a 1099 contractor) who steals business from the company he/she works for can be charged with theft.  Larceny does not have to be only theft of money.  Larceny is theft of anything that has value.

Just because you have been charged with a theft/larceny charge in Virginia (even if they found the stolen goods on you), do not assume that you are guilty as charged. The Virginia theft/larceny laws require the prosecutor to prove certain facts to secure a Virginia larceny conviction.  Not all Virginia theft/larceny defense lawyers know and understand the possible defenses to a larceny case.  An experienced Virginia larceny defense lawyer will know what motions to file to properly defend you.

Some of the different Virginia theft/larceny charges are:

• Petit larceny, also called petty larceny
• Grand larceny
• Shoplifting
• Robbery/Burglary
• Auto theft/Carjacking
• Embezzlement
• Obtain Money or Goods By Falese Pretense
• Credit card fraud
• Recieve Stolen Goods
• Writing Bad Checks

Petit larceny (a.k.a petty larceny) is a CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR in Virginia.  The maximum penalty for a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia is 1 year in jail and/or a $2500 fine.  Petty larceny (petit larceny) in Virginia can be something as simple as grabbing a five ($5) dollar bill from a person’s hand without their permission.  Also, theft of goods or property in Virginia, having a value of less than two hundred ($200) from the owner can result in a conviction for petit larceny (petty larceny).

Any allegation of theft of goods worth two hundred dollars ($200) or more will result in being charged with grand larceny in Virginia.  You can also be charged with grand larceny in Virginia, if you are accused of grabbing more than five dollars from the owner’s hand without their permission.  Grand larceny is a very serious criminal theft charge in Virginia.  The maximum penalty for a conviction of grand larceny in Virginia, is twenty years in jail.  In our experience, Virginia juries do like thieves and are not lenient when it comes to handing out sentences for serious theft crimes such as grand larceny charges in Virginia, embezzlement in Virginia, receiving stolen goods in Virginia, writing bad checks in Virginia, shoplifting in Virginia, credit card fraud in Virginia, etc.

Virginia courts take shoplifting very seriously.  A lot of people do not realize that shoplifting in Virginia is prosecuted very aggressively by Virginia prosecutors.  You can be charged with shoplifting for something as simple as forgetting to pay for something and walking out of the store.  Almost every store in Virginia has a loss prevention department dedicated to catching people for shoplifting.  Some stores, even give bonuses to loss prevention departments based on the number of successful shoplifting busts.  Regardless of the circumstances surrounding a Virginia shoplifting charge, you are facing a Virginia petit larceny (petty larceny) or Virginia grand larceny charge and you need the best defense lawyer possible to defend you.

Do not take any type of theft charged lightly, because a larceny conviction will follow you for the rest of your life.

The following are some of Virginia theft/larceny laws in Virginia:

Petit Larceny (petty larceny) is defined by Virginia State Law 18.2-96. Virginia Code Section 18.2-96 also states how a person convicted of petit larceny in Virginia will be punished.

Virginia Code Section 18.2-96 states that

Any person in Virginia, who:

1. Commits larceny from the person of another of money or other thing of value of less than $5, or

2. Commits simple larceny not from the person of another of goods and chattels of the value of less than $200, except as provided in subdivision (iii) of § 18.2-95, shall be deemed guilty of petit larceny, which shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Grand larceny is defined by Virginia State Law 18.2-95.  Virginia Code Section 18.2-95 also states how a person convicted of grand larceny in Virginia will be punished.

Virginia Code Section 18.2-95 states that

Any person who (i) commits larceny from the person of another of money or other thing of value of $5 or more, (ii) commits simple larceny not from the person of another of goods and chattels of the value of $200 or more, or (iii) commits simple larceny not from the person of another of any firearm, regardless of the firearm’s value, shall be guilty of grand larceny, punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than twenty years or, in the discretion of the jury or court trying the case without a jury, be confined in jail for a period not exceeding twelve months or fined not more than $2,500, either or both.

Shoplifting is defined by Virginia State Law 18.2-103.

Virginia Code Section 18.2-103  – Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts.

Whoever, without authority, with the intention of converting goods or merchandise to his own or another’s use without having paid the full purchase price thereof, or of defrauding the owner of the value of the goods or merchandise, (i) willfully conceals or takes possession of the goods or merchandise of any store or other mercantile establishment, or (ii) alters the price tag or other price marking on such goods or merchandise, or transfers the goods from one container to another, or (iii) counsels, assists, aids or abets another in the performance of any of the above acts, when the value of the goods or merchandise involved in the offense is less than $200, shall be guilty of petit larceny and, when the value of the goods or merchandise involved in the offense is $200 or more, shall be guilty of grand larceny. The willful concealment of goods or merchandise of any store or other mercantile establishment, while still on the premises thereof, shall be prima facie evidence of an intent to convert and defraud the owner thereof out of the value of the goods or merchandise. Embezzlement

Embezzlement is defined by Virginia State Law 18.2-111.

Virginia Code Section 18.2-111 – Embezzlement deemed larceny; indictment.

If any person wrongfully and fraudulently use, dispose of, conceal or embezzle any money, bill, note, check, order, draft, bond, receipt, bill of lading or any other personal property, tangible or intangible, which he shall have received for another or for his employer, principal or bailor, or by virtue of his office, trust, or employment, or which shall have been entrusted or delivered to him by another or by any court, corporation or company, he shall be guilty of embezzlement. Proof of embezzlement shall be sufficient to sustain the charge of larceny. Any person convicted hereunder shall be deemed guilty of larceny and may be indicted as for larceny and upon conviction shall be punished as provided in § 18.2-95 or § 18.2-96.

Our Virginia theft/larceny attorneys provide legal representation to clients all throughout Virginia including but not limited to:

Manassas City, VA, Fairfax City, City of Manassas Park, Town of Dumfries, Town of Haymarket, Alexandria City, Falls Church City, Town of Herndon, Town of Vienna, Dale City, Woodbridge, Mclean, Centreville, Chantilly, Leesburg, Warrenton, Alexandria City, Amisville, Ashburn, Baileys Crossroads, Catlett, Centreville, Chantilly, Dulles, Dunn Loring, Falls Church, Dale City, Dumfries, Franconia, Fredericksburg, Ft. Myer, Great Falls, Greenway, Gainesville, VA, Haymarket, Herndon, Independent Hill, Leesburg, Lincolnia, Lorton, Manassas, Manassas Park, Mc Lean, Merrifield, VA, Montclair, Oakton, Occoquan, Pimmit Hills, Potomac, Reston, Seven Corners, Springfield, Stafford, Sterling, Triangle, Vienna, Warrenton Woodbridge. Amelia County, Arlington County, Caroline County, Chesterfield County, Culpeper County, Cumberland County , Fairfax County , Fauquier County, Goochland County, Hanover County, Isle of Wight County , James City, King and Queen County, King William County, Loudoun County, New Kent County, Powhatan County, Prince William County, Richmond County, Henrico County, Southampton County; Spotsylvania County, Virginia; Stafford County, Surry County, Sussex County, Warren County, York County, Alexandria city, Bristol city, Virginia; Chesapeake city, Fairfax city, Falls Church City, Fredericksburg City, Hampton City, Newport News City, Norfolk City, Petersburg City, Poquoson City, Portsmouth City, Richmond City, Staunton City, Suffolk City, Virginia Beach City, Eastern & Western District of Virginia Federal Courts, Alexandria Federal Court, Richmond Federal Court, Virginia Beach Federal Court, Newport News Federal Court, Roanoke Federal Court, Abingdon Federal Court.

Our Virginia theft/larceny lawyers and staff speak various languages, including English, Arabic, Tamil, Spanish, French, Hindi, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Telugu.

For more information or to make an appointment with SRIS, P.C., please call or complete the on-line form.

We Are a Designated Debt Relief Agency under Federal Law. We Provide Legal Assistance to Consumers Seeking Relief Under the Bankruptcy Code.