Defending Clients Accused of Stealing
If you've been charged with theft, burglary, robbery or any other property crime, you may be wondering how serious your charges are, whether you are at risk of going to jail and whether anyone is ever going to hire you again if you get convicted.
I'm Pittsburgh attorney Ralph Karsh, and I can give you honest answers to those questions and vigorously defend you against your criminal charges. To set up a free consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer, contact my office today.
Understanding Pennsylvania Property Crime Laws
There is a lot of confusion about the different types of property crimes in Pennsylvania. Depending on the exact nature of your charges, the prosecutors may need to prove very different sets of circumstances. The most common charges include the following:
- Theft is a general name for crimes that involve the stealing of someone else's money or property. Theft charges can range from white collar crimes to retail shoplifting.
- Burglary means breaking into and entering someone's property for the purpose of committing a crime, which is often theft but may be something else as well.
- Robbery means taking someone's property through the use of force or the threat of force. Robbery armed with a deadly weapon is considered aggravated robbery.
The amount of jail time and fines associated with these crimes can be very different depending on the exact charge, the amount of money involved and other factors. However, a criminal record for any property crime can have a major impact on your ability to get a job.
Protecting Your Freedom by Paying Attention to Details
I have had great success fighting charges of theft and related property crimes. Because the elements of these crimes are so complex, there is a great deal the prosecutors have to prove, and I will conduct independent investigations to hold them accountable to every single element.
Even if there is clear-cut evidence that you took money or property illegally, I may be able to get the charges against you reduced to something much less serious.
I will discuss all of your options with you and give you a realistic sense of what to expect from the criminal justice process. Contact me to discuss your theft, burglary or robbery charges.
