WHAT IS PETTY THEFT IN OHIO?
Simply defined, petty theft is the illegal act of taking someone's property or service against their will. Petty theft is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor in Ohio punishable by expensive fines and possible jail time.
Petty theft can occur in any of the following ways:
Most shoplifting offenses are charged as petty theft as long as the merchandise involved has a value of less than $500.
When facing these charges, it is of critical importance to hire a skilled Toledo petty theft lawyer who has thousands of cases under his belt. Lorin J. Zaner can offer you the focused attention your case deserves.
Petty theft can occur in any of the following ways:
- Without the permission of the owner
- Beyond the scope of the permission given by the owner
- Through deception
- Through threat
- Through intimidation
Most shoplifting offenses are charged as petty theft as long as the merchandise involved has a value of less than $500.
When facing these charges, it is of critical importance to hire a skilled Toledo petty theft lawyer who has thousands of cases under his belt. Lorin J. Zaner can offer you the focused attention your case deserves.
WHAT IS AGGRAVATED ROBBERY?
Under Ohio Law, you can be charged with aggravated robbery if while fleeing from, committing or attempting to commit a theft you:
- Have a deadly weapon and use it, brandish it, display it, or indicate you have it
- Possess explosives or other “dangerous ordnance”
- Inflict or attempt to inflict serious physical harm on the alleged victim
- Removing or attempting to remove a deadly weapon from a police officer
THEFT CLASSIFICATIONS
Ohio law breaks down theft into categories based on the value of the goods stolen:
- The lowest category is the only theft crime to be classified as a misdemeanor, and it is known as petty theft. You will be charged with this crime if you knowingly steal property valued at less than $1,000 (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2913.02(B)(2).)
- Stealing anything of greater value is classified as a felony and known as grand theft.
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR THEFT?
If you are convicted of petty theft you will face life-changing penalties, according to § 2929.24(A)(1), § 2929.28(A)(2), these penalties include:
- Restitution, including legal fees
- Jail sentence up to 180 days
- Fines up to $1,000
WHAT IS A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR PETTY THEFT?
First-time offenders with no prior criminal record may be eligible for a pretrial diversion program or plea agreement instead of the penalties mentioned above. Ohio's theft diversion program allows the defendant to undergo a probation-like period of time in exchange for getting their charges dropped.
The prosecuting attorney and judge will outline certain requirements for the pre-trial program, which often include things like requiring the defendant to submit to random drug testing and/or to take certain classes. The defendant must also avoid committing any other crimes. Upon successful completion of this program, the defendant's charges of petty theft will be dismissed.
Although this charge is only a misdemeanor, a conviction will seriously impact your life. You need an experienced Toledo petty theft lawyer who will devote the attention necessary to see that your case has the best possible outcome.
The prosecuting attorney and judge will outline certain requirements for the pre-trial program, which often include things like requiring the defendant to submit to random drug testing and/or to take certain classes. The defendant must also avoid committing any other crimes. Upon successful completion of this program, the defendant's charges of petty theft will be dismissed.
Although this charge is only a misdemeanor, a conviction will seriously impact your life. You need an experienced Toledo petty theft lawyer who will devote the attention necessary to see that your case has the best possible outcome.
GET A LAWYER WITH A REPUTATION FOR RESULTS
As a trial-tested criminal defense attorney for the past 40 years, Lorin J. Zaner has seen it all. He knows what it takes to defend you against petty theft charges. Often, people who have been arrested for petty theft were in the wrong place at the wrong time or have a credible reason to dismiss these charges. Even if you think you have a strong defense, you need an experienced attorney with a thorough knowledge of the law to make an argument on your behalf.
