A serious theft charge can leave you facing the potential for catastrophic penalties. A conviction could land you in prison, but even if you escape incarceration, you might be left with a criminal record that affects several aspects of your life, including your ability to secure employment and housing.
To build an aggressive criminal defense, you need to know your options. Only then can you pick the criminal defense path that best protects your interests.
Criminal defense strategies when facing theft charges
Depending on the facts of your case, you might have several defense options that you can utilize. These include:
- A reasonable belief that had ownership over the property in question
- You lacked control over the property that’s alleged to have been stolen
- You never actually possessed the property in question
- You lacked the requisite intent to deprive someone of the use of their property
There might be other factors that contribute to your defense, too. For example, if you were intoxicated when the property was taken, then it might be easier for you to demonstrate that you lacked the intent necessary for prosecutors to convict you of theft. With so many factors coming into play, you’ll want to be diligent in considering your defense options.
Find the criminal defense strategy that’s right for you
There’s a lot to consider when you’re developing your criminal defense. While you’ll want to carefully think about the best way to fight back against the prosecution, you’ll also want to assess whether a plea deal is right for you.