Theft Lawyer Pleasant Valley, MO

Theft Lawyer in Pleasant Valley, MO. You can’t underestimate Pleasant Valley, MO, theft or larceny charges. You could be facing years in prison. Without help, it’s easy to feel lost.

Combs Waterkotte is here to help. You need an experienced theft lawyer in Pleasant Valley, MO, and we’re here to provide just that. With our firm, we don’t take shortcuts – we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial.

Page Overview:

Below, you will read about:

• The key elements of theft in Pleasant Valley, MO
• Your next steps after a larceny arrest
• The role that a defense attorney plays in your case
• Felony and misdemeanor theft charges in Pleasant Valley, MO
• Stealing charges that don’t fit under Missouri’s main theft law
• Defenses that can be effective in theft cases
• Why you should choose Combs Waterkotte for your defense
• Getting started crafting your defense now

What Counts as Theft in Pleasant Valley, MO?

Missouri has several laws regarding theft, but the main one is Missouri Revised Statutes § 570.030. It outlines different types of larceny in the state:

1. Taking someone else’s property and not planning to give it back, either without their permission, by tricking them, or by threatening them.
2. Trying to take anhydrous ammonia or liquid nitrogen that does not belong to you, whether or not you succeed.
3. Receiving and/or selling stolen property.

Theft charges can be either misdemeanors or felonies depending on several factors, which you can read about more detail below. But whatever you’re facing, you need to get in touch with a Pleasant Valley, MO stealing charges lawyer to look for weaknesses in the case against you.

What Sets Pleasant Valley, MO, Theft Charges Apart?

There are two things that set apart theft allegations in Pleasant Valley, MO: The type of property taken and what the perpetrator supposedly did to take it.

In § 570.030 RSMo, Missouri names several specific items and categorizes them into penalty categories. The value of the item can also play a factor.

Your defense strategy might focus on the supposed method of theft, or on the item itself: Sometimes, your criminal defense attorney will challenge the value of the item in question, leading to lesser penalties. Other times, your defense could hinge on whether or not you had permission to use the item.

In many cases, theft crime convictions are enhanced specifically by prior convictions for stealing offenses.

Is Shoplifting Included in § 570.030 RSMo?

There is not a separate statute for shoplifting versus regular theft in Missouri — both are covered under § 570.030 RSMo.

Shoplifting, also known as “retail theft,” is when a person allegedly steals merchandise from a store while it is open. Shoplifting can take various forms. One example is hiding an item inside of a different container, in order to avoid scanning it at checkout.

Some other states have dedicated shoplifting laws. In these states, shoplifting is often treated similarly to Missouri, with a variety of penalties depending on the type of items allegedly stolen and their value.

What to Do if You’ve Been Accused of Stealing

If you’ve just been arrested for stealing in Pleasant Valley, MO, you’re probably feeling a lot of stress. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first, but if you take the right steps, you can position yourself well for your lawyer to help. Stay silent, get in touch with your lawyer, and put together anything you think would help your lawyer.

Follow these steps to set yourself up for a positive outcome:

1. Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent — Exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, and don’t answer any police questions on your own.
2. Request Your Stealing Defense Attorney — In addition to the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney. Contact one as quickly as possible.
3. Comply With Pretrial Release Conditions — If you are granted pretrial release, it’s important to obey all requirements.
4. Tell Your Pleasant Valley, MO, Defense Attorney Everything — Anything you tell your lawyer is protected by attorney-client confidentiality. Tell your defense attorney the full story.
5. Research Your Case — Your lawyer can help you understand the statute(s) you’re accused of violating, and the potential penalties for a conviction.
6. Search for Evidence — The more information your theft lawyer has, the better.
7. Create a Defense Plan — Now that you understand the charges and can review the evidence, it’s time for you and your attorney to pick a defense plan.

Why You Need an Experienced Pleasant Valley, MO, Theft Lawyer

Whether you’ve just been arrested or have a trial coming up fast, getting a defense attorney on your side should be your top priority. They can protect you in interrogations, at pretrial hearings, and all the way through sentencing and appeals.

Your rights get an added layer of protection when you work with an attorney:

Get help against these charges now. An attorney from Combs Waterkotte can make all the difference. Contact our team now to start building your defense: (314) 900-HELP

Misdemeanor vs. Felony Theft Charges in Pleasant Valley, MO

If you’ve been accused of theft, what was allegedly stolen can determine what the potential penalty is. In general, the biggest risk factors are the value of the item and your prior criminal record. Below, we’ve listed the different possible penalty classes for theft under § 570.030 RSMo, and what qualifies for each:

Class A Felony Theft:

• Stealing a storage tank or other container with any amount of anhydrous ammonia.

Class B Felony Theft:

• General theft and attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia or liquid nitrogen.
• Stealing livestock over $3,000 in value, with a prior livestock theft conviction.
• Stealing livestock over $10,000 in value, with or without a prior conviction.
• Stealing a vehicle, in cases where the accused has had two separate and unconnected theft-related convictions in the last 10 years.
• Stealing money from a financial institution by physically trying to take it from a worker.
• Stealing over $10,000 worth of property as part of a shoplifting ring.

Class C Felony Theft:

• Stealing an ATM, or anything inside one.
• Stealing $750 or more worth of property, but less than $10,000, as part of an organized retail theft.
• General theft of property or services worth more than $25,000.

Class D Felony Theft:

• Stealing something the alleged victim was currently carrying or holding.
• The item stolen was:
  • A motor vehicle.
  • A will.
  • A credit or debit card.
  • A firearm.
  • An explosive weapon.
  • A U.S. flag for public display.
  • An original copy of a Missouri legal bill.
  • A court document.
  • A voter registration book.
  • Live fish, raised for sale, with a value of $75 or more.
  • Captive wildlife held under permit.
  • Drugs.
  • Ammonium nitrate.
  • Power, phone, or fuel lines.
  • Anything to be used in the creation of methamphetamine.
• General theft of property or services worth $750 or more.

Class E Felony Theft

• Stealing an animal.
• Stealing a catalytic converter.
• Any alleged thefts wherein the supposed offender has had three prior stealing convictions, on separate occasions, within the last 10 years.
• Stealing mail before it reaches the recipient.

Class D Misdemeanor Theft

• Stealing property that fits none of the above categories, is worth less than $150, and the alleged offender has no prior theft convictions on their criminal record.

For charges of theft that don’t fit into the above categories, theft is considered a class A misdemeanor.

Similar and Related Charges Your Pleasant Valley, MO Theft Lawyer Can Help You Fight

General larceny is covered under § 570.030 RSMo in Pleasant Valley, MO, but some specific subtypes of theft are given their own statutes. For example, embezzlement is a form of stealing in which the supposed offender had legitimate access to the money. This is different from general theft, which normally presumes the supposed offender did not have prior access.

Burglary

Missouri defines burglary as breaking into a building when you aren’t allowed to be there, and intending to commit a crime. This crime is often a form of theft, but not always.

Robbery

Robbery is the term used for violent theft. In Pleasant Valley, MO, for a crime to count as robbery, the alleged victim must have been threatened/hurt, or a weapon is involved.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is typically a white-collar crime. Instead of a person taking property that wasn’t theirs from another, under embezzlement, a person who has legitimate access to valuables misuses them.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a particular kind of theft that involves stealing someone else’s identity, or manufacturing a fake one. Missouri law also specifies an intent aspect: Identity theft must be done with the intention to commit theft.

Credit Card Fraud

Credit and debit card fraud cover a variety of activities: Using a fake card, stealing and using a card, using a cancled card, and lying on an application for a card.

Theft-Related Offenses: Penalties Table

Contact your Pleasant Valley, MO stealing charges lawyer from Combs Waterkotte to learn more about these charges today. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to theft crimes in Missouri where you can learn more about these charges.

Powerful Defenses Against Stealing Charges

Theft, stealing, and larceny charges can be defended using unique strategies like claim of right or ownership, and through more universal defenses like necessity and mistaken identity. Your attorney will research your case and listen to your story, then build a defense based on a tactic like the ones below:

• Claim of Right — Claim of right applies when the alleged offender believed they had permission to take the property.
• Actual Ownership — Sometimes, a theft case is no more than a property dispute. If you can show you lawfully owned the item in question, this can be one of the strongest defenses.
• Perceived Ownership — If you honestly believed you owned an item, this can sometimes excuse theft. Proving this relies on strong supporting evidence.
• Lack of Intent — It’s possible that you took something that didn’t belong to you by accident; in that case, you did not have any intent to steal.
• Necessity — Sometimes theft is committed to prevent greater harm; for example, stealing medical supplies to help someone who’s been injured.
• Alibi — Alibi is often the strongest defense in criminal cases, as it shows that you physically could not have been the offender.
• Mistaken Identity — If you were misidentified, your lawyer can challenge the lineup procedure and work to introduce doubt.
• Lack of Evidence — Sometimes, the state fails to make its case in a convincing manner. Your defense lawyer can show off the flaws in the case.
• Evidentiary Issues — If key evidence was obtained illegally or did not follow chain of custody rules, it can be challenged and thrown out.

Fighting a case requires more than just the right defensive strategy. It also takes a larceny defense attorney who knows how to use it. At Combs Waterkotte, we’re prepared to explore every option to defend against your charges.

Why You Want to Work With an Expert Pleasant Valley, MO, Theft Lawyer From Combs Waterkotte

Our firm is ready to take your case. It doesn’t matter what you’re accused of, what the evidence is, or where you’re at in the justice process. You need an experienced Pleasant Valley, MO, theft lawyer, and we are ready for your call.

This is why you should choose us to defend your case:

• Former prosecutorial experience gives our team an advantage against the prosecutor.
• We keep our phones online 24/7 if you have a question or need an update on your case.
• Every defense we build is trial-ready, which also gives us leverage in plea negotiations.
• Past clients are open about their positive experiences with our firm.
• Our lead investigator is a former police officer who can look for evidentiary weaknesses.

When you are facing theft accusations, you need an experienced stealing charges lawyer to protect your freedom. You need Combs Waterkotte.

Fight Your Theft Charges. Contact Combs Waterkotte Now

Allegations of larceny are important to take seriously. A conviction could mean a felony on your record, years in prison, and long-lasting collateral consequences. Getting help soon is critical. And Combs Waterkotte is always available.

Connect with a theft lawyer in Pleasant Valley, MO, now by calling (314) 900-HELP or use our contact form to plan a confidential case review.