THEFT DEFENSE LAWYER BOSSIER CITY

Common Theft Charges in Louisiana

Under Louisiana law, theft is an umbrella term that can include many different types of theft. Some common theft charges are: 

• Purse snatching. Purse snatching has its own statute (L.R.S. § 14:65.1). Purse snatching involves force, but not a deadly weapon or injury. The sentence for purse snatching is anywhere between two and 20 years, depending on the facts of your case.
• Theft of a firearm. This is when a person knowingly takes a firearm, whether directly or via fraudulent practices, with the intent to permanently deprive the true owner of the weapon. This may include anything from a handgun to a revolver, rifle, shotgun, or more. 
• Carjacking. Like purse snatching, the sentence for carjacking in Louisiana is between two and 20 years. This criminal charge is not eligible for parole or probation in LA. 
• Identity theft. Identity theft is a serious crime that occurs when a person steals another individual’s personal information and poses as that individual to fraudulently obtain something of value. 
• Shoplifting. Shoplifting in Louisiana is a misdemeanor when the value of the items stolen amounts to less than $1,000. It becomes a felony offense when the value of the items exceeds $1,000.
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Felony Theft vs Misdemeanor Theft

The difference between felony charges and misdemeanor charges in Louisiana when it comes to theft is the value of the items taken. If the value is under $1,000, it is considered a misdemeanor. If the item(s) had a value greater than $1,000, you may be facing a felony charge.

Robbery

While many people believe that robbery and theft are synonymous, there is a big difference between the two crimes. Robbery involves taking something of value using force or intimidation, while theft does not involve those factors. As one might expect, the penalties for robbery are much more severe than the penalties for general theft. Plus, many robbery penalties do not have the option of parole or probation. 

Theft Penalties in Louisiana

The penalties for theft in Louisiana are severe. The more serious penalties involve lengthy jail time, large fines, and permanent criminal convictions on your record. To avoid these exorbitant penalties, it’s important that you make sure you have an attorney who is familiar with criminal law and theft charges in the state of Louisiana. 

In most cases, the specific penalties depend on the value of the theft. For example:

• Thefts valued at $25,000 or more: maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $50,000.

• Thefts valued between $5,000 and $24,999: maximum of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $10,000.

• Thefts valued between $1,000 and $4,999: maximum of 5 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $3,000.

• Thefts valued at less than $1,000: maximum of 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of not more than $1,000. If this is the third offense, the maximum penalty is 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of not more than $2,000. 

When a theft charge involves violence, the threat of violence, or a deadly weapon, the penalties significantly increase. For instance, an armed robbery conviction has a maximum sentence of 99 years.