Theft Crimes Under Missouri Law
Need an attorney for a theft case in St. Louis?
Have you been arrested for a theft-related crime in St. Louis? If so, you are urged to contact Brent E. Labovitz, Attorney at Law for the aggressive representation you need! In Missouri, theft offenses are covered under RSMO – Chapter 570, Stealing and Related Offenses, all of which carry specific penalties depending upon the offense and the value of the goods or services appropriated. Under Chapter 570, there are numerous theft-related offenses, some of which include:
- Stealing
- Receiving stolen property
- Stealing, civil liability of a parent or guardian
- Counterfeiting
- Passing bad checks
- Lost property
- False Advertising – Class A misdemeanor
- Forgery – Class C felony
- Credit card fraud
- Financial exploitation of the elderly
- Library theft – Class C Misdemeanor, or Class C felony or Class B felony
- Identity theft
- Theft of cable television services – Class A misdemeanor or class C felony
- Manufacturing or possessing five or more fake IDs – Class C felony
Under § 570.010, depriving someone of their property is defined as "withholding property from the owner permanently." Stealing is covered under §570.030; in addition to stealing another's property, it also includes when an individual failed to or refused to pay for the property or services of a hotel, restaurant, or inn.
The offense of stealing is charged as a Class C felony if the value of the property or goods or services is $500.00 but less than $25,000 or, if the actor takes the property directly from the victim, or if the appropriated property is a firearm, a motor vehicle, a credit card, or an unrecorded deed affecting real property. Even receiving stolen property is a serious offense under §570.080 and can be charged as a Class B or C felony.
Any offense of stealing property in which the value of the property exceeded $25,000 will be charged as a Class B felony. Any violation that the penalty is not specified under §570.030, is a Class A misdemeanor.
If you have been arrested for any type of theft-related offense, you could be facing serious penalties including imprisonment. Protect your rights today by contacting Brent E. Labovitz, Attorney at Law!
Why Brent Labovitz Should by Your First Call!
- He formerly worked for the Missouri Public Defender's Office where he was the lead counsel on hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases.
- He has developed important relationships with local area judges and prosecutors alike.
- He defends cases on the state and federal levels.
- He is a volunteer attorney for the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri where he represents indigent clients in various civil matters including orders of protection and divorce.
- He is a member of numerous legal organizations including the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
Learn more about attorney Labovitz' successful case results by reading the victory and testimonial pages on this site!