Theft is a crime that the state of California takes very seriously. Most people do not realize that the difference of only a few dollars can make a theft charge more serious in this state. Statutes regarding the theft of another person’s property are not as simple as a person may imagine. There are several different charges and penalties, dependent on what was stolen and the value of property taken. Grand theft is one of the more serious theft charges of which a person can be accused; though laws usually vary from county to county, this crime carries with it steep consequences in most cases.
What is Grand Theft?
California considers a crime to be grand theft when the value of the stolen property exceeds $950. There are several exceptions to this law that can turn many instances of theft into a grand theft charge. Stealing certain crops or seafood from the places that produce them, for instance, can garner a grand theft charge if the amount of goods stolen exceeds $250. There are also several instances when a person can be charged with grand theft regardless of the value of the stolen property – stealing a firearm, car or any of a number of farm animals will lead to a grand theft charge, even if the object isn’t especially valuable.
Bail Amounts
There is no specified bail amount for grand theft that encompasses all of California. Each county produces its own bail schedule to decide what a person must pay to get out of jail after being arrested for any type of grand theft, and these amounts vary widely between counties. For instance, Los Angeles County requires a person to pay $1,000 dollars and have a court appearance, while San Luis Obispo County has bail amounts ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 dollars, depending on the circumstances. Bail amounts will also within one county, based upon whether the grand theft is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. This decision will general correspond to the circumstances of a particular case, as well as the criminal history of the person being charged.
Charges and Punishments
There are several types of grand theft, and they all carry different punishments. Any grand theft that is charged as a misdemeanor will have a maximum jail term of one year. Felony charges are always punishable by over a year in prison. There are several types of grand theft that can be charged as felonies. Grand theft charges that have their own sections in the penal code include grand theft auto and grand theft person. Grand theft person is the theft of something that was actually being carried by a person when it was stolen.
If a person is convicted of felony grand theft, they are usually sentenced to sixteen months, two years or three years in prison. The choice of these three sentences is again at the discretion of the judge. Sentence enhancements can also be applied depending on the specific circumstances of a case. Stealing something worth over $200,000 will actually bring a sentence enhancement of two years. Punishments for grand theft can vary as much as the bail amounts between counties.
Grand theft is a serious charge that brings with it serious consequences. Anyone accused of any type of grand theft should work to get out of jail as quickly as possible to prepare their defense. It is usually possible to get released from jail in only a few hours after you contact Bail Hotline Bail Bonds®. This is due to the fact that grand theft is listed on all of California county bail schedules, so it usually isn’t necessary to see a judge before being released. Knowing the many nuances of grand theft law in California is certainly a good reason to seek the proper legal counsel once you are free on bail.
