Larceny Attorney in Syracuse, New York
Larceny is the term used to describe all theft in New York state penal code. It is defined as wrongfully taking, obtaining, or withholding another person’s property. From petty theft to massive white-collar embezzlement cases, many crimes can fall under the hood of larceny. These are just a few examples of the means by which the New York penal code states a person can commit larceny:
Keeping someone’s lost property
Writing a bad check
Taking property by means of extortion
Larceny is typically classified based on the value of the property that was stolen. “Petit Larceny” is used to describe the lowest offense, for theft of property valued under $1,000. It is a Class A misdemeanor. “Grand Larceny” is used to describe any theft involving property above $1,000 in value. However, Grand Larceny is also divided into four degrees of severity based on the property value. In some cases, the type of property stolen can impact the classification. For example, the theft of a firearm or debit/credit card will be classified as Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, even if the item was worth less than $1,000.
Fourth Degree
Classification: class E felony
Property Value: Greater than $1,000 or if the property is a motor vehicle, credit or debit card, or firearm
Max Prison Sentence: 4 years
Max Fine: $5,000
Third Degree
Classification: Class D felony
Property Value: Greater than $3,000 or if money was stolen from an ATM
Max Prison Sentence: 7 years
Max Fine: $5,000
Second Degree
Classification: Class C felony
Property Value: Greater than $50,000 or if the stolen property was obtained through particular means of extortion
Max Prison Sentence: 15 years
Max Fine: $15,000
First Degree
Classification: Class B felony
Property Value: Greater than $1,000,000
Max Prison Sentence: 25 years
Max Fine: $30,000
Fight Your Larceny Charge With a Trusted Defense Attorney
Contact James Hopkins Law Firm today to get dedicated legal counsel and representation in your larceny case. Attorney James Hopkins will work tirelessly and utilize all available resources to help you reach the best outcome possible.