Theft, Burglary & Robbery Charges

St. Paul Defense Lawyer for Property Crimes

The act of taking something that does not belong to you can take several forms in terms of legal charges. Whether you are facing theft, burglary or robbery charges, you need an effective and experienced defense lawyer to protect your rights. Mark D. Kelly has worked with people accused of all types of theft-related crimes in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. He is a top-rated defense lawyer because of his willingness to aggressively advocate for the rights of his clients.

Being convicted of a property related crime like theft, robbery or burglary carries potential jail time and heavy fines. A conviction related to stealing will also have long-lasting effects on your potential for securing a good job. Employers are very reluctant to hire someone who they believe might steal from them.

What is the Difference Between Robbery, Theft and Burglary?

In very basic terms, theft is the act of taking something that does not belong to you. Robbery adds the element of a threat against a person, Burglary adds the element of entering someone’s private property to take the item. Robbery and Burglary, life theft, follow a similar framework as the one below where the higher the value of what was stolen equates to a higher fine and longer maximum time in jail.

• Simple Robbery - Property is taken where force or the threat of force is involved. This can result in up to 10 years in prison and up to a $35,000 fine.
• Second Degree Aggravated Robbery - When the threat of a weapon is involved or the victim suffered bodily harm, the accused can face up to 15 years in prison and a fine as high as $30,000
• First Degree Aggravated Robbery - Where 2nd Degree is the threat of a weapon, the actual use of a weapon will result in a 1st degree charge. This is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine as high as $35,000.

Classification of Theft Offenses There are dozens of types of theft defined by Minnesota law including Theft by check, altering a serial number on a vehicle, wage theft, workers’ compensation fraud and theft under the Federal Food Stamp Program. Regardless of how the theft happened, the penalties are generally determined by the total value of what was stolen. In a some cases the item that was stolen can affect the class of penalty (in the case of stolen drugs or guns).

Value of Stolen Item(s)	OR...	Max Jail Time	Max Fine
Over $35,000	Aggravating factors like fraud or a vulnerable adult victim Theft of a firearm of any value	20 Years	$100,000
$5,000 - $35,000	Theft of trade secret Theft of explosive device Theft of Schedule I or II controlled substance (other than marijuana)	10 Years	$20,000
$1,000 - $5,000	Schedule III, IV, or V controlled Substance $500 - $1,000 but similar offense in past 5 years Property under $1,000 but was taken from grave, during a riot, or is a motor vehicle	5 Years	$10,000
$500 - $1,000		1 Year	$3,000
Under $500		90 Days	$1,000

 

Serious Defense for Theft, Robbery or Burglary Charges

No matter the degree or type of property crime you are facing, having experienced and dedicated counsel to protect your rights through the defense process is critical. We have seen several instances of “trumped up” charges related to theft where a prosecutor is determined to seem “tough on crime”. Do not become a statistic of the system; contact Mark D. Kelly Criminal Defense right now to learn how we can help you through this difficult time.