Understanding Arizona Theft Crimes
Facing Arizona theft charges is overwhelming. The legal system is complex and can be intimidating. Understanding the specifics of the crime and the potential penalties if convicted are important steps in navigating the legal system.
Lawyer Listed created this guide to provide you with a detailed overview of the most common Arizona theft crimes. It explains key terms and sentencing guidelines. It also answers frequently asked questions about these charges.
Remember, this information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice from an experienced Arizona criminal defense lawyer. If you are facing Arizona theft charges, consult with a qualified Arizona theft crimes attorney as soon as possible. Lawyer Listed simplifies this process and matches you with an elite criminal defense lawyer tailored to your case.
Key Concepts of Arizona Theft Crimes:
- Intentionally or with intent to means that there was an objective to cause a result or engage in a specific conduct. In other words, you meant to do it.
- Knowingly means that you were aware of your actions or the circumstances that make up the offense. It doesn’t require that you knew your conduct was illegal; you just needed to be conscious of what you were doing or the situation you were in.
Theft: ARS 13-1802
ARS theft covers a wide range of actions where you take or misuse someone else’s property or services without their permission. Under Arizona theft laws, you must knowingly act without legal right and take control of something that doesn’t belong to you. ARS 13-1802 breaks down theft into the following categories:
- Controlling property with intent to deprive means you take someone’s belongings and plan to keep them permanently.
- Converting property or services for unauthorized use means property or services are given to you for one purpose, but you use the property or service for own, unauthorized purpose.
- Obtaining property or services through misrepresentation involves tricking someone into giving you something by lying about something important.
- Coming into possession of lost or mislaid property means you find something that’s lost and don’t try hard enough to find the owner.
- Controlling stolen property means you know or have reason to know that something you have is stolen.
- Obtaining services without paying means you receive services knowing you have to pay for them, but you don’t.
- Theft from vulnerable adults involves taking advantage of a vulnerable person’s property when you’re in a position of trust.
Penalties for ARS Theft
The penalties for ARS theft depend on the value of the stolen goods or services. The following table summarizes the range of theft offenses:
| Theft Value | Class | Jail/Prison | Probation (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Jail: up to 6 months | 3 years |
| $1,000 - $1,999 | Class 6 Felony | Prison: 0.33 – 2 years | 3 years |
| $2,000 - $2,999 | Class 5 Felony | Prison: 0.5 - 2.5 years | 3 years |
| $3,000 - $3,999 | Class 4 Felony | Prison: 1 - 3.75 years | 4 years |
| $4,000 - $24,999 | Class 3 Felony | Prison: 2 - 8.75 years | 5 years |
| $25,000+ | Class 2 Felony | Prison: 3 - 12.5 years | 7 years |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shoplifting: ARS 13-1805
Arizona shoplifting laws, specifically ARS 13-1805, cover more than just taking an item and leaving a store without paying. It covers a range of actions where you knowingly obtain goods from a store with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the goods. In simpler terms, it means stealing from a commercial store. Shoplifting in Arizona includes all of the following:
- Unauthorized removal of merchandise involves taking an item from its display location or any other area of the store with the intent to steal it. This includes hiding items in bags, pockets, or on your person to avoid being seen.
- Fraudulent purchases involve using a false name, a false identity, or someone else’s account to buy goods.
- Price tag manipulation involves deceiving the store by changing, removing, or swapping price tags to pay less than the actual price.
- Other deceptive practices cover other actions meant to avoid paying for merchandise.
Penalties for ARS Shoplifting
The penalties for shoplifting in Arizona depend on different things, including the value of the stolen items, your past criminal history, and any other factors that make the situation worse. Here’s a summary of the possible penalties:
| Class | Elements of Offense | Jail/Prison |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 Misdemeanor | Shoplifting property value of less than $1,000. | Jail: up to 6 months |
| Class 6 Felony | Shoplifting property value between $1,000 and $1,999. | Prison: 4 months to 2 years |
| Class 5 Felony |
Shoplifting property value of $2,000 or more. Shoplifting as part of a continuing criminal episode or to assist a gang or criminal syndicate. |
Prison: 6 months to 2.5 years |
| Class 4 Felony |
Shoplifting using an artifice, instrument, device, or container. Shoplifting with two or more prior theft-related offenses or convictions. |
Prison: 1 year to 3.75 years |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Theft of Means of Transportation: ARS 13-1814
ARS theft of means of transportation is the Arizona car theft law. Arizona car theft involves stealing a “means of transportation,” which is typically a car or other similar vehicle. ARS 13-1814 outlines several ways to commit theft of means of transportation – each must be done knowingly and without lawful authority:
- Unauthorized control with intent to deprive means taking control of someone else’s vehicle with the intent to keep it permanently.
- Unauthorized use involves using another person’s vehicle for an unauthorized length of time or purpose after being loaned the vehicle for a specific, limited time or purpose.
- Misrepresentation means obtaining a vehicle through false pretenses or misrepresentations, with the intent to keep it permanently.
- Lost or misdelivered vehicle means keeping a vehicle that was lost or misdelivered without engaging in reasonable efforts to find the owner.
- Knowing possession of stolen property means being in possession of a car knowing or having reason to know it’s stolen.
ARS Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation: ARS 13-1803
ARS unlawful use of means of transportation is a related crime defined in ARS 13-1803. This crime involves either knowingly taking control of someone’s vehicle without permission or being in a vehicle you know or have reason to know is stolen.
Penalties for ARS Criminal Damage
The penalties for theft of means of transportation and unlawful use of means of transportation depend on the specific charge, your criminal history, and the circumstances of the crime.
| Crime | Felony | Prison | Probation (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlawful Use: passenger in stolen vehicle | Class 6 | 4 months – 2 years | 3 years |
| Unlawful Use: unauthorized control | Class 5 | 6 months – 2.5 years | 3 years |
| Theft of Means of Transportation | Class 3 | 2 – 8.75 years | 5 years |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Extortion: ARS 13-1804
ARS 13-1804 defines extortion as knowingly obtaining or trying to obtain property or services through the use of threats. It’s important to know that the crime is the threat itself, regardless of whether the threat is actually carried out. The Arizona extortion law lists the following threats as grounds for extortion charges:
- Threats with deadly weapons or dangerous instruments
- Threats of death or serious physical injury
- Threats of physical injury
- Threats of property damage
- Threats of false accusations and criminal charges
- Threats of reputation damage
- Threats of official action
- Threats of property seizure
Penalties for ARS Extortion
Sentencing for ARS extortion depends on the nature of the threat, which determines the class of felony.
| Charge | Felony | Prison | Probation (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threats not involving death or serious physical injury | Class 4 | 1 – 4 years | 4 years |
| Threats involving a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, death or serious physical injury | Class 2 | 3 – 12.5 years | 7 years |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Next Steps
Arizona theft crimes are serious charges with serious consequences. The charges and the resulting sentence depend on many factors. Lawyer Listed meets you where you are and helps you understand the law and your rights to effectively get through this difficult situation.
If you’re facing Arizona theft charges, engaging a skilled theft crimes attorney is essential to protect your rights and manage the process. Don’t try navigating the legal system alone; match with your ideal lawyer at Lawyer Listed and get an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side right away.