What Are the Penalties for Felony Theft Convictions in California?

Theft is a serious offense across the United States. California law takes theft seriously and the penalties for a felony theft conviction reflect that. Theft is the unlawful act of taking someone else’s property without their permission. There are several penalties that someone can face after committing a theft and they will vary depending on the specific circumstances of your situation.

If you are facing theft-related charges in California, contact a Tehama County theft lawyer for sound legal advice and representation.

When is Theft Deemed a Felony?

In California, theft can be considered either a misdemeanor or a felony. Misdemeanor theft is referred to as petty theft, whereas felony theft is referred to as grand theft. How a court decides the charges will depend on the specific circumstances of the case and is typically determined by the monetary value of the property stolen.

Under California law, theft is considered a felony if the value of the property is $950 or more. In most cases, property valued at less than $950 will be charged as a misdemeanor. There are exceptions to this rule, though. The following situations can be charged as a felony regardless of the monetary value of the items stolen.

• If the property was stolen from someone’s person
• If the stolen item is a firearm
• If the stolen item is a car, plane, or other type of transportation
• If the stolen item is an animal or livestock
• If the stolen item is a type of farm product

A prosecutor may also decide to charge the crime as a felony based on your past criminal record or the location in which the theft was committed.

What Are the Consequences?

The penalties for felony or grand theft in California are severe, as the crime is very serious. Generally, consequences include:

• Extensive fines
• Restitution
• Loss of certain rights, for example, the right to own a firearm
• Jail time of 3 years

There are also caveats that determine extra time served depending on the value of the property stolen. If the value exceeds:

• $65,000: you may have an extra year added to your sentence
• $200,000: you may have an extra 2 years added to your sentence
• $1,300,000: you may have an extra 3 years added to your sentence
• $3,200,000: you may have an extra 4 years added to your sentence

The actual results of your penalties will vary depending on your specific situation including when and where the theft took place, the value of the property stolen, and your prior criminal record.

The penalties for misdemeanor theft will be less severe. A skilled lawyer will work to negotiate your charges down to petty theft so you can avoid the full extent of a grand theft sentencing.