Theft Attorneys in Boston MA
Top Theft Attorneys in Boston, MA, are ready to fight for you. Skilled criminal defense lawyers at Leon & Davis have a strong record of success representing clients accused of theft crimes in Massachusetts.
What you need to know about theft crime defense in Massachusetts.
Theft Crimes in Massachusetts: Range of Penalties
Theft crimes in Massachusetts can range from low-level misdemeanors such as shoplifting to serious felonies carrying significant prison time. If your case involves burglary, robbery, or the theft of large sums of money, the penalties for a conviction can be quite severe and you can face years in prison on a single count. In addition to prison time, you can also end up being ordered to pay substantial fines and restitution to the victim. Courts often try to make an example of defendants convicted of theft with stiff penalties, so it is important to obtain the best legal representation possible.
Beyond Criminal Court: Long-Term Consequences of Theft Charges
Simply being charged with a theft crime can have very harmful consequences on your personal and professional life. Criminal Offender Recod Information (CORI) database will have your name easily accessible to employers, educational, institutions, and anyone who wants to check your record. A conviction will have a negative impact on your ability to obtain future employment given the ease of conducting background checks as these crimes are often viewed as evidence of a person’s lack of honesty and trustworthiness. It can prevent you from obtaining certain professional licenses and cause long-term problems for your career. Outside of criminal court, these crimes, even shoplifting, are almost always considered crimes involving moral turpitude by the immigration courts of the United States. As a result, anyone who is not a United States citizen is at risk of devastating immigration consequences, including deportation, if they are convicted of a theft crime or receive a continuance without a finding. A continuance without a finding is considered a conviction by the immigration courts.
Why is it important to hire a theft attorney in Massachusetts?
Common Theft Defenses
There is much at stake and you need to hire a skilled theft attorney who will develop a defense strategy to fit your case. The prosecution must prove that you took property with the intent to deprive someone else of the allegedly stolen property. Your attorney may be able to successfully argue that you lacked the intent to steal because you legitimately believed that you owned the property. In other cases, your attorney may be able to argue that you did not violate the law because the property owner consented to your possession of the property or that you were in fact the owner of the property. An accuser might be mistaken or even fabricating the allegation out of revenge or for another reason. These are common theft defenses that an experienced attorney can use to help you win your case. In some cases, your attorney may be able to get the case dismissed upon payment of restitution if the victim is simply seeking monetary compensation.
Reduced Charges & Mitigating Costs
Your attorney may also be able to persuade a jury or judge that the prosecution cannot accurately prove the amount of loss or the value of stolen property. While it is not a complete defense to a theft crime, it may result in reduced charges and a lower potential penalty. Such a strategy could result in you facing a misdemeanor conviction carrying little to no jail time and minor financial penalties instead of a felony conviction leading to years in state prison and tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in court-ordered fines and restitution. Mitigating the cost of your theft charges is another reason why you need to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Experience of Leon & Davis Theft Attorneys
Theft attorneys at Leon & Davis have won dismissals prior to trial and acquittals at trial on charges of burglary, identity theft, forgery, receiving stolen property, uttering. Along with such serious crimes as insurance fraud, felony larceny, and other theft-related offenses such as breaking and entering and other property crimes. We have successfully convinced judges to suppress evidence in fraud cases resulting in the prosecution being forced to dismiss the charges.
Contact Leon & Davis today so you can give yourself the best chance of winning your case.