Larceny Criminal Defense Lawyer in Charleston, SC
Larceny is the legal word in SC for “theft” or “stealing.”
Larceny is when a person takes another person’s property without permission and with the intent of permanently depriving the owner of their property – if you intend to return the property, or if you had permission to take it, it is not larceny.
What are the Penalties for Larceny in SC?
In South Carolina, there are three “levels” of larceny that are referred to as either petit larceny (pronounced “petty” larceny) or grand larceny. Like shoplifting, receiving or possession of stolen goods, or forgery, the severity of a larceny charge is determined by the dollar value of the property that is alleged to have been stolen.
- Petit Larceny: When the dollar value is less than $2000, larceny is a misdemeanor punishable by as much as 30 days.
- Grand Larceny: When the dollar value is more than $2000 but less than $10,000, larceny is a felony punishable by as much as five years in prison.
- Grand Larceny: When the dollar value is more than $10,000, larceny is a felony punishable by as much as ten years in prison.
Larceny charges often accompany a burglary charge – burglary is the crime of entering another’s dwelling or building without permission with the intent to commit a crime inside; while larceny, the act of taking another’s property. Is usually the crime that was intended to be committed during the burglary.
Receiving or Possession of Stolen Goods
To charge someone with larceny, police will have to prove that the person stole the property. What happens if you are found in possession of stolen property, but the police can’t prove that you stole it?
It is a separate crime to be in possession of stolen goods – it doesn’t matter if you are the one who stole them. They only have to prove that the stolen property is in your possession and that you knew the property was stolen.
Like larceny, the penalties for possession of stolen goods are determined by the dollar value of the property in question:
- Less than $2000: up to 30 days;
- More than $2000 but less than $5000: up to five years; and
- More than $10,000: up to ten years.
In some cases, police may believe that you are the person who stole the property, but they can’t prove it. In other cases, police may charge you, but they are more interested in who the property came from – it may be that there is a string of unsolved burglaries and police think that you hold the key to solving them…
SC Larceny Criminal Defense Attorney in Charleston
If you have been charged with burglary, larceny, or possession of stolen goods in the Charleston area, get advice from an experienced criminal defense lawyer before you talk to police or prosecutors.
Call Charleston criminal defense lawyer Grant B. Smaldone now at (843) 808-2100 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
