Many people make the mistake of not taking theft charges seriously, especially if they face misdemeanor theft charges. Criminal charges, including theft, could result in serious consequences for you now and in the future.

Under Illinois law, authorities can charge you with theft anytime your actions involve the unauthorized taking of property and services of another person with the intent to deprive them of that property. In other words, authorities may charge you with theft when they believe you took something that belonged to someone else without permission and with the intent to keep it.

Illinois law classifies most theft crimes according to the dollar value of the property allegedly stolen and the circumstances under which someone allegedly stole it. These classifications make the difference between misdemeanor or felony charges. The result will determine the potential penalties in terms of fines and jail time.

The many different kinds of theft charges include petty theft crimes, grand larceny, carjacking, burglary, auto theft, and robbery, just to name a few. Knowing the difference between each of these, and know how to formulate the best defense for each. No matter what your theft is charged as, you are facing time in jail, fines, and the possibility of civil charges to be brought against you. When you have been accused of theft, you need the immediate help of an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Reach out to the team of lawyers at Martin & Kent, L.L.C., for a free consultation of your case at (630) 474-8000. With offices in Wheaton in DuPage County, we serve DuPage, Kane, and Cook Counties.

Prosecutors will charge you with theft for allegedly taking another person’s property with the intent to deprive them of that property, or by concealing, using, or abandoning the property with full knowledge of the implications of your actions.

For a court to convict you of theft, prosecutors, must prove that you:

• Took unauthorized control over the property
• Used threat or deception to control the property
• Obtained property that you knew was stolen

The first type of theft crimes above is what people typically consider theft—the accused took something without permission. The second and third are more complicated, however. Scams where someone either conned or tricked the owner into transferring the property constitute the second type of theft. The last type of theft commonly arises in cases involving pawn shops, purchases from craigslist, or other potential means of obtaining stolen property.

Do not try to represent yourself in the complicated, confusing criminal justice system. You can lose your rights, significant amounts of money, and your freedom for failing to meet a deadline or file a certain document. Invest in quality legal representation to protect your future.

Theft is a specific intent crime. The prosecution needs to prove that you knew you intended to commit theft. If it can’t prove that you intended to commit theft, or you can prove that you didn’t have that intent, prosecutors should dismiss the charges or the court should acquit you.

Where appropriate or available, an experienced attorney will know whether, when, or how to raise other defenses on your behalf, including:

Many theft allegations result from a misunderstanding between the accused and the owner. Maybe you had permission at one point, but the owner withdrew permission without your knowledge. Possibly the owner implied you had permission to use or take the property and now denies it. Maybe the owner gave you permission but wasn’t clear as to how or when you could have the property. Successfully raising this defense requires a careful and exhaustive examination of the facts and expert understanding of the law.

This can sometimes prove similar to the permission defense. In this instance, you believe the owner allowed you to borrow the property and you intended to return it. This defense also applies if you had permission to borrow something and simply forgot to return it. Again,  your attorney will need to know the facts and the law to successfully argue this defense.

In cases of divorce, break-ups, or any situation where there is shared living space and shared property, the parties may forget over time who owns what. You move out and take what you believe is yours, but the other person accuses you of theft. If you can prove that it’s actually your property, you can avoid a theft conviction.

This is only a partial defense. Essentially, you argue that the property is not as valuable as the prosecution claims, and perhaps that it’s worthless.

This applies in cases where the prosecution alleges that you received stolen goods. To assert this defense, you need to prove that you did not know you received stolen goods.

Returning stolen property is not a defense against theft crimes charges. However, voluntarily returning stolen property may persuade the prosecution to reduce the charges or drop them altogether.

All of this sounds pretty simple and straightforward, but it’s actually much more complicated than it sounds. You need a criminal defense attorney to help you know, understand, and apply the law. Furthermore, a criminal defense attorney can evaluate the strength of the case against you, suggest possible defenses, identify the critical facts, and craft the best possible argument on your behalf.

Without a lawyer, the prosecution may try to pressure you into admitting your guilt or accepting an unfair plea deal. They will employ many tactics to get a conviction as quickly as possible. They are not obligated to tell you about problems with the evidence or any elements of the charges they can’t prove.

Working with a seasoned DuPage County theft crime lawyer can help show that you had permission to take the property, you intended to return the property after temporary use, or some other relevant defense.

The sooner that you retain legal representation to protect your rights and build a solid defense, the better chance you have of successfully fighting against your accusations. Don’t delay—prevent the prosecution from condemning you to a lifetime of penalties.

When your rights, reputation, and criminal record are on the line, you need legal counsel who inspires confidence. With more than 10,000 criminal cases under our belts, Scott Kent Law, L.L.C., is the aggressive, experienced legal team you need. Contact Us at (630) 474-8000 or contact us to schedule your free consultation today!