October 22nd, 2024
Posted By
Stephen Lebedevitch
Thief snatches bag from woman on the night street.

In Connecticut, the crime of larceny occurs “when, with intent to deprive another of property or to appropriate the same to himself or a third person, [a person] wrongfully takes, obtains or withholds such property from an owner.” Under Connecticut law, larceny charges include, but is not limited to:

  • Embezzlement
  • Obtaining property by false pretenses
  • Obtaining property by false promise
  • Acquiring property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake
  • Extortion
  • Defrauding of public community
  • Theft of services
  • Receiving stolen property
  • Shoplifting
  • Conversion of a motor vehicle
  • Obtaining property through fraudulent use of an automated teller machine
  • Library theft
  • Conversion of leased property
  • Failure to pay prevailing rate of wages
  • Theft of a utility service
  • Air bag fraud
  • Theft of motor fuel
  • Failure to repay surplus Citizens' Election Fund grant funds.

If you were charged with larceny in Fairfield or New Haven counties, having experienced legal representation is crucial to obtaining a successful outcome. Stephen Lebedevitch is an experienced and aggressive theft defense lawyer who can analyze your unique situation and work to prepare a vigorous defense designed to achieve optimal results.

Contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

Penalties for a Larceny Conviction

The severity of larceny charges depends on the value of the items involved.

Crime

 Classification Value of Items Penalty
Larceny in the first-degree

Class B Felony

 $20,000 or more 20 years in prison and a $15,000 fine
Larceny in the second-degree Class C Felony $10,000 - $20,000 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
Larceny in the third-degree Class D Felony $2,000 - $10,000 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine
Larceny in the fourth-degree Class A Misdemeanor $1,000 - $2,000 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine
Larceny in the fifth-degree Class B Misdemeanor $500 - $1,000 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine
Larceny in the sixth-degree Class C Misdemeanor Less than $500 3 months in jail and a $500 fine

Defending Against Connecticut Larceny Charges

Often, a lawyer can resolve first-offense larceny charges by negotiating to have the case dismissed in exchange for restitution and community service. In more severe cases where the defendant is a repeat offender or was charged with felony larceny, a more aggressive approach may be required.

Common defenses to larceny charges include:

  • You own the property that was allegedly stolen.
  • You were wrongfully accused.
  • You did not intend to deprive the owner of their property
  • If you were intoxicated, you may have been unable to form the intent required to commit larceny.
  • Challenging the value of the allegedly stolen items.
  • Having evidence excluded because the police violated your constitutional rights by performing an illegal search.
  • Challenging the reliability, admissibility, and sufficiency of the evidence the prosecutor intends to present to try to convict you of theft.

How a Connecticut Larceny Attorney Can Help

The Lebedevitch Law Firm defends people charged with larceny in Connecticut. We will carefully evaluate the circumstances that led to your arrest and mount a vigorous defense designed to lead to the dismissal of the case against you or a substantial reduction in the severity of the penalties you face.

Connecticut larceny defense attorney Stephen Lebedevitch has extensive experience defending people accused of larceny and other crimes in Fairfield and New Haven counties. He can investigate your case, explain and help you evaluate your options, and defend you against Connecticut larceny charges.

Contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm Today

Contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm to schedule an appointment to discuss your case and how we can help.