Theft by Deception Utah - Criminal Defense Lawyer Salt Lake
If you are facing criminal charges for theft by deception in
Utah, you could be facing substantial jail or prison time as well as
thousands of dollars in fines. Theft by deception charges in Utah
combine elements of theft with elements of fraud. Hiring an
experienced Utah
criminal defense
attorney can be the best step toward ensuring that your
rights are protected. Based in Salt Lake City, criminal lawyer Stephen
Howard has a track
record of achieving real
results.
Elements of a Theft by Deception Charge in Utah
Utah criminal law contains several varieties of "
theft"
crimes. The offense of theft by deception occurs when a person "obtains
or
exercises control over property of another by deception and with a
purpose to deprive him thereof." The element of "deception" does not
change the level of this theft offense, but it often means that other
crimes may be filed in addition to the theft by deception charge.
One typical combination of charges is theft by deception and
forgery.
A person accused of passing a forged check and
receiving
cash by falsely representing that the check is good my be charged with both forgery (for passing the bad check) as well as theft
by deception (for obtaining the cash by deception).
Another
typical combination arises when a person is accused of pawning stolen
property. In this circumstance, a prosecutor may file a
charge of
theft
by receiving stolen property
for possessing the stolen property that is being pawned, as well as a
charge of theft by deception for obtaining payment from the pawn shop
by falsely representing to the pawn shop that he or she had authority
to sell or dispose of the property.
Penalties for Theft by Deception in Utah
Whether a charge of theft by
deception is charged as a
misdemeanor or
felony
will usually depend on the
value of the items taken. At its lowest level, a conviction for
misdemeanor theft by deception is punishable by up to 180 days jail. As
values increase, a theft by deception charge can result in a second
degree felony conviction and up to 15 years in prison.
Choosing the Best Utah Criminal Attorney for Your Case
When
you are facing criminal charges of theft by deception, you need an
attorney who really understands how to get results. Many
attorneys claim to be "
aggressive." But you need an attorney
who
knows how to
fight hard, and
fight smart. Stephen Howard has a
track record that includes not
guilty verdicts and outright
dismissals on some of the most serious criminal charges on the books in
Utah. While no attorney can guarantee a particular result for your case, having an experienced attorney can help ensure that your rights are protected.
Based in
Salt
Lake City, criminal defense attorney
Stephen Howard offers legal services to clients throughout
Utah.
If you are facing criminal charges for theft by deception, you need an
attorney on your side who gets real results.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation.