Have you been arrested for larceny in Massachusetts? The penalty for larceny in Massachusetts can vary depending on how serious the charge is, the value of the property stolen, your previous criminal record, and other factors. Most people who are charged with larceny in Massachusetts will face some kind of jail time or probation in addition to financial penalties like paying a fine.

How Does Massachusetts Define Larceny?

Larceny, synonymous with (and sometimes referred to as) theft, is formally defined as: “the taking of another person’s personal property with the intent of depriving that person of the use of their property.”

Is Larceny A Misdemeanor Or Felony In Massachusetts?

Under Massachusetts law, larceny can be either a misdemeanor or a felony. As you may already know, misdemeanors are less severe charges than felonies and therefore carry a less harsh penalty. Those facing felony larceny charges will have tougher penalties to deal with than those who have misdemeanor charges.

The main difference between catching a misdemeanor larceny charge or a felony larceny charge is the value of the property stolen. Petty larceny is reserved for property that is less than $1,200 in value. Grand larceny is reserved for theft of property or services that exceed $1,200 in value.

What Are The Penalties For Misdemeanor Larceny In Massachusetts?

If the sum of the value of all the stolen property comes out to be less than $1,200, the larceny is considered petty and therefore a misdemeanor.

If you have been charged with misdemeanor larceny in Massachusetts, you could be facing up to one year in a Massachusetts state incarceration facility and a financial penalty in the form of a fee, which can be as high as $300.

What Are The Penalties For Grand Larceny In Massachusetts?

If the sum of the value of all the stolen property comes out to be over $1,200, this is considered felony larceny in Massachusetts. It can be punished for as long as five years in a Massachusetts state incarceration facility. You could also be facing a financial penalty in the form of a fee that could be as high as $25,000. Additionally, those with either a felony larceny charge or a misdemeanor larceny charge may face even more serious penalties if they already have a criminal record or if they were found to be committing other crimes at the time of the larceny act.

For example, if someone was driving a stolen car to break into and rob someone’s house, this constituted more than one crime being committed at once. So, for this reason, if the person ended up stealing minor items from the home that did not exceed $1,200, it’s true that they may only catch a misdemeanor larceny charge, but the other crimes that were committed will escalate the situation and make the penalties much more severe.

How Can A Criminal Defense Lawyer Help Me With A Larceny Charge?

As mentioned previously, if you are charged with a theft crime, you could be facing some serious penalties that will affect your life forever. However, when you work alongside a qualified theft crimes attorney, you may be able to have the charges reduced or dismissed by employing any of the defenses below.

  • You never intended to steal the property and were merely borrowing it.
  • The person whose property was stolen actually consented to you taking their property (i.e., letting you borrow it or giving you the property)
  • You never partook in the theft but were simply there when the crime occurred.
  • You were a victim of mistaken identity and are not the thief.

Every larceny case is unique, and the facts surrounding the unlawful taking, the property involved, and the property valued can significantly affect the charges and potential penalties. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or felony offense, a larceny conviction can result in a permanent criminal record and other lasting consequences. An experienced criminal defense attorney can evaluate the evidence, identify opportunities to raise reasonable doubt, and work to protect your rights at every stage of the case.

Schedule A Criminal Case Evaluation With Toland Law Today

When you work with our team of honest and hardworking criminal defense lawyers, you can have confidence knowing that we will take all of the steps necessary to have your larceny charges dismissed or reduced entirely, if possible. Our defense attorneys will thoroughly investigate every aspect of your case, interview all witnesses, and fight to have any damaging evidence suppressed.

If you have been charged with a theft crime in Boston, whether it is petty larceny or grand larceny, you will need to contact an experienced theft defense lawyer as soon as you possibly can. Our theft defense lawyer at Toland Law has been representing individuals accused of crimes for years.

Contact us to secure the most aggressive defense for your case.

Toland Law, LLC