204 Washington Avenue NE, Marietta, Georgia 30060
Serving Clients in Georgia Over 40 Years
Call now for a FREE Legal Consultation.
770.422.0878
Serving Clients in Georgia Over 40 Years
Call now for a FREE Legal Consultation.
770.422.0878

Theft Defense Attorney Protects the Rights of the Accused in Marietta, GA

Defending clients in crimes against property

Georgia takes theft crimes very seriously and defines dozens of types of theft crimes and fraud. Punishments are severe and stack up quickly, based on the value of the goods that were allegedly stolen. We all make mistakes, but small errors in judgment should not impact the rest of our lives. The Law Offices of Melvin S. Nash investigates the details of every circumstance in your case to find reasonable doubt and to develop a strategy for taking apart the prosecution’s case.

Types of theft

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, there were more than 300,000 reported property crimes in 2016, including robbery, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. In Georgia, robbery is defined as the taking of property by force, whereas burglary involves unauthorized entry onto a property with the intent to steal.

Generally, theft of property valued at more than $500 incurs a felony charge (as opposed to a misdemeanor charge). Punishment for a misdemeanor conviction can include a few fines, and jail for less than one year or probation. For a felony, however, a convicted person faces one to ten years in prison with potential eligibility for parole or probation, as well as hefty fines. Punishments become steeper if the stolen goods include firearms, explosives, commercial property, or items from a memorial to the dead.

Some of the most common theft crimes include:

Shoplifting — Shoplifting is the appropriation of goods from a merchant by concealing, altering the price, swapping containers with another item, or otherwise wrongfully causing the price paid to be lower than the merchant intended. It may seem like child’s play, but shoplifting is a crime and is punishable just like any other — even though it is just a misdemeanor, sentences can include up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Shoplifting differs from other theft crimes in that theft of goods valued at more than $300 is considered a felony.

Theft by receiving stolen property — In such cases, the person charged is not the person who committed the theft itself. Instead, the accused is believed by law enforcement and the prosecution to have known about the illegal status of the property before assuming possession of it.

Theft by deception — Though it seems as if any theft is an example of deception, this title is applied to a very specific type of crime. Theft by deception occurs when a person obtains property by:

  • Lying
  • Failing to correct a false assumption or impression
  • Preventing others from uncovering facts pertinent to the property
  • Selling or transferring stolen property, property with a lien, or property that is otherwise unavailable legallyPromising a service or delivery of goods without fulfilling that promise

All such deceptions must involve intentionally stolen property or money, and proving this intention is often the lynchpin in criminal defense against theft crimes.

Theft crimes are built on the perpetrator’s intention to defraud or deceive. A strong criminal defense casts doubt on this intention, doubt regarding the property’s original ownership, and even doubt that a crime has occurred. Attorney Nash’s 40 years of legal experience allow him to find reasonable doubt and build robust defenses that dismantle the prosecution’s case. His experience, combined with a thorough investigation of the case and honest, open communication, assures you that your case is in capable hands.

Contact a skilled theft crimes defense attorney serving Marietta and metro Atlanta

Fines, jail time, and an enduring criminal record are on the line, and they are all reasons to obtain professional, effective theft crime defense representation. To protect your civil rights throughout the legal process, call the Law Offices of Melvin S. Nash at 770.422.0878 or contact our office online to schedule a free initial consultation. We have six locations throughout metro Atlanta to serve your nee

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