Sayreville Theft Attorney

Charged With Shoplifting, Theft of Services, Theft by Deception, Receiving Stolen Property, Burglary, Credit Card Fraud or Another Theft Related Offense in Sayreville New Jersey

Law enforcement and prosecutors in Sayreville New Jersey, as well as the rest of New Jersey, are committed to obtaining convictions against individuals charged with any and all theft charges, from disorderly persons offenses in Sayreville Municipal Court to the most serious felonies at the Middlesex County Superior Court.

A theft or fraud offense of any type can mean the potential for very serious consequences. A conviction results in a record for some form of stealing or dishonesty which is viewed unfavorably by prospective employers and others who have occasion to delve into your criminal background. There are also significant penalties that come with a finding of guilt for theft, including a county jail sentence or even years in state prison.

Given the ramifications presented by a Sayreville theft charge, preserving and protecting your rights by contacting an experienced theft defense lawyer is of the utmost importance. When faced with a theft offense in Sayreville, you want to find an attorney who is both skilled in defending the particular offense you are facing and familiar with the experienced in the courtroom.

The theft defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have more than 100  years of combined experience defending clients accused of theft crimes and possess the skill necessary to defend any type of charge you may be facing. In fact, one of the lawyers on our defense team is a former director in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the agency that oversees all criminal cases arising and Sayreville and throughout the county.

If you have been charged with any of theft or offense involving fraud in Sayreville, New Jersey, call our East New Brunswick office at 732-201-6509 for a free and confidential consultation with a knowledgeable attorney and to discuss what can be done to help you defend your case.

Sayreville Theft Charge

New Jersey criminal statute N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3 defines theft as the unlawful taking or exercising of control over the property of another with the purpose of depriving them of its benefit. To be convicted of this particular charge, theft by unlawful taking, the a prosecutor must show that the accused knowingly, engaged in an act, whose intention was to deprive another person of his or her property. This offense is probably the most basic variety of theft charge set forth in the New Jersey Criminal Code but its principles underpin just about any violation of this type you may be facing, including:

The grading of a fraud related or theft offense is generally determined by the value of the property stolen. The severity of your Sayreville charge will hinge on where it falls within the classifications that follow.

• Disorderly Persons Offense. Theft of property with a value under $200, is the most common type of theft charge in the Borough of Sayreville. This grade of theft charge falls within the jurisdiction of the Sayreville Municipal Court.  A conviction for a disorderly persons offense for shoplifting, writing a bad check or some other variety of theft within this grade, results in up to six months in a county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
• Fourth Degree Crime. Theft of property with a value between $200 and $500 is punishable as a 4th degree crime, a felony, which exposes a defendant to up to 18 months in prison and a fine that can reach $10,000.
• Third Degree Crime. A third degree crime for theft is triggered where the property stolen has a value of at least $500 but less than $75,000. If you are convicted of third degree theft at the Superior Court in New Brunswick, you face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
• Second Degree Crime. It is a second degree crime to steal or defraud someone of property with a value of $75,000 or more. You are exposed to penalties that include a maximum fine of $150,000 and 5-10 years in jail if you are convicted of second degree theft, fraud, forgery or some other form of this offense.

In addition to the penalties previously set forth, restitution is commonly ordered when someone is sentenced for theft. In other words, you can also expect to be ordered to repay the victim for his or her monetary losses if you plead or are found guilty of theft offense you were charged with in Sayreville.

Defending a Theft Offense in New Jersey

Our expert theft defense attorneys will immediately review the charges against you and counsel you on the strategies available to formulate an effective defense against the charges you are facing.

Those charged with crimes are often unaware of all of the available options for their defense. But with our years of experience as criminal defense attorneys, we can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution’s case and develop an effective defense strategy.

In many cases, there may be very viable defenses to a theft charge. For example, you may have taken the item, but not intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

In other cases, the property may have been taken by accident. For example, a young child puts an item in his or her mother’s purse or shopping cart and they inadvertently walk out of the store without paying for it. Cases such as these may be easy to defend.

On the other hand, cases where the theft was caught on camera, are more difficult to defend. What we typically try to do in those cases is reach a plea agreement with the district attorney, whereby you plead guilty to a lesser offense, such as trespassing or disturbing the peace.

In fact, there are many techniques we can employ in an attempt to secure a plea agreement involving something below the crime of theft, which is a crime of moral turpitude and carries with it more serious collateral damage.

Sayreville NJ Theft Defense Lawyer

To protect your rights and safeguard against being unfairly and harshly treated for the theft charge you are facing, you need to retain a skilled defense lawyer. The eight criminal attorneys at the Marshall Firm have over a century of combined experience and include several former prosecutors who know how the system works. We will put all of our resources to work for you so that the very best outcome is achieved on your behalf. Contact us anytime 24/7 at 732-227-1200 to discuss the specifics of your Sayreville theft case with a seasoned criminal attorney. If you have been charged in Sayreville or another municipality in Middlesex County, one of the lawyers in our New Brunswick Office is ready to provide a no obligation consultation immediately.