Enhanced Theft Charges

Fort Wayne Theft Crimes Attorney

Indiana criminal law has been compiled in such a way as to punish theft crimes as severely as possible. In most states, there is a key distinction between petty theft and enhanced theft, usually assigning misdemeanor charges to one and felony charges to the other. However, in Indiana, all theft charges are processed as felonies with the only distinction being in the class of the felony, determining the length and severity of the sentence.

The highest charge, a class C felony theft offense would be referred to as enhanced theft by many people. This is usually determined by the individual case circumstances. Under Indiana law, there are several key factors that would constitute a class C felony charge. The main factor is based on the value of the items allegedly stolen by the defendant. Generally speaking, any theft amounting to a value at or over $100,000 is a class C felony and punishable by up to eight years in prison.

However, there are other aggravating factors that would lead to this serious charge. For example, an individual may be charged with a class C felony if the object they allegedly stole was a valuable metal and was taken from a health care facility or a public utility and the absence of the object created a risk of harm to other person.

This same charge may also be placed on individuals that did not necessarily commit the act of stealing it but accepted, retained or disposed of it knowing the objects were illegally obtained in the first place. If any of the aforementioned information is true about your situation, you could be facing between two and eight years in jail. In addition to the immediate legal ramifications, having a felony conviction on your record could be very detrimental to your future, seeing as felony convictions can be seen by prospective employers and cannot be expunged from your record.

Contact a Fort Wayne theft crimes lawyer immediately to learn how you and your legal representative can defend you against your grand theft charges today.