Theft
When Petty Theft Can Turn into Commercial Burglary in California and How an Experienced Southern California Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help You – California Penal Code Sections 484 and 459
Under California law, petty theft is described as the taking of property of another valued at $400 or less. A first offense can be charged as a misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of six months in county jail. Commercial burglary under California law is described as entering any structure other than a residence with the intent to commit grand or petty theft or any felony therein. Commercial burglary is…
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$100,000 Missing After Armored Car Spills Bag of Money and How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help You – California Penal Code section 487
It was recently reported that in Columbus, Ohio, more than $100,000 went missing after a bag of cash fell from an armored car into an intersection. Passing motorists abruptly stopped to get grab handfuls of bills. About $100,000 was picked up by police officers and $12,000 more was returned by good Samaritans after the bag hit the pavement, was run over and split open Wednesday morning. About 15 to 20…
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Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Property – California Penal Code Section 496
An Oceanside police sergeant recently pleaded guilty to charges of "receiving stolen property and knowingly accepting items purchased with embezzled funds," according to a recent report by San Diego News 10. The man had been with the Oceanside Police Department for 10 years and was quoted as being a "rising star" in the department when he was charged. Allegedly, the man was romantically involved with a woman who had been…
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What the Prosecution Must Prove to Charge and Convict Someone of Carjacking – Penal Code Section 215
The crime of carjacking comes under the broad scope of California theft-related offenses. To be found guilty of carjacking in California, the defendant must have taken a motor vehicle from the custody of another person by force, violence, or assault. For the prosecution to meet its burden for a carjacking conviction, it must be proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the taking of the motor vehicle was done with the…
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Celebrity Burglaries Led by 19-Year-Old
A recent article details the burglary spree that victimized homes of young Hollywood stars Audrina Patridge, Lindsay Lohan, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bilson and the Hilton family. The ringleader behind these thefts, according to a confession by one of the robbers, was a 19 year old Las Vegas woman whose desire to own the designer clothes and jewelry of such celebrities as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton motivated her to spearhead…
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Stolen Party Machinery Results in Jail Time and Grand Theft Conviction
A Long Beach woman was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty in the West Orange County Justice Center to felony theft by fraud, according to an article in the Orange County Register. The woman allegedly threw a birthday party for her son that she never intended to pay for. The article explains that the woman went to a party rental supply store and selected various items…
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Embezzlement: What is It?
According to California Penal Code Section 503 Embezzlement is "the fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been entrusted." In other words, if some one entrusts you with money or property, and you use that money or property for something other than it was originally intended, you are guilty of embezzlement. For instance, if your boss hands you a bag full of money to deposit at…
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Shoplifting in California
Shoplifting is a term often used to describe when a person intends to steal or steals an item from a store. However, shoplifting can also involve switching labels or tags on an item to get the item for less money or illegally taking items from your place of work that were entrusted to you. Another common term for shoplifting is petty theft. Petty theft is considered a misdemeanor for the…
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Two Arrested in Church Parking Lot Thefts Now Praying for an Experienced Riverside Theft Attorney
Two people were arrested outside a Temecula, CA church on Sunday, October 4, 2009, on suspicion of vehicle theft and other charges according to authorities. An officer was patrolling the area of Hope Lutheran Church in Temecula because there had been several recent reports of burglaries in church parking lots in the area during worship services. At about 9:00am an officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle…
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Vehicle Searches Incident to Arrest
Evidence from Warrantless Vehicle Search Incident to Passenger's Arrest is Suppressed where Defendant was Inside Patrol Vehicle when Searched Defendant, Gonzalez, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. This conviction resulted when a firearm was found during a June 19, 2006 traffic stop of a car in which Gonzalez was riding. The police, following the arrest of another passenger with outstanding warrants, searched the passenger compartment and found…
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