Property Crime Lawyers In Bellefontaine, OH
Have you been arrested and charged with a property crime? Depending on the nature of the alleged offense and the value of the property involved, you may face serious felony charges that can put your freedom, reputation, and future at risk. However, you don’t have to face the Columbus criminal justice system alone. Contact McNamee Defense for an initial case evaluation with a defense attorney to discuss your legal options for defending yourself against charges of property crimes and learn how our firm can help you seek an outcome that best protects your rights, interests, and future.
Why Choose McNamee Defense?
Facing prosecution for a property crime can put your rights, reputation, and future at stake. As a result, your choice of legal representation can become one of the most important decisions you may make when defending yourself in the criminal justice system.
Choose a criminal defense attorney from McNamee Defense to help you seek a favorable resolution to your charges because:
- Our firm offers aggressive yet discreet legal representation that respects your privacy and interests. We work tirelessly to fight for the results you want and need when you face charges of property crimes.
- Our legal team focuses on the facts of your case, minimizing unnecessary delays to pursue an efficient resolution. We recognize the stress you experience while under prosecution.
- Attorney Colin McNamee has a decade-plus of experience defending the rights and interests of clients facing prosecution in the criminal justice system. He has earned a reputation for compassionate legal advocacy and a detailed approach to representation that combines thorough investigation and preparation of a tailored, innovative case strategy aimed at securing the best possible results under the circumstances in a case.
Types of Property Crime Charges We Defend Clients Against
At McNamee Defense, our firm represents clients facing prosecution in Columbus for property crimes such as:
- Theft crimes, including petty theft, grand theft, shoplifting, receiving stolen property, and robbery
- Burglary, or the unlawful entry into a building with the intent to steal property or commit other crimes inside
- Motor vehicle theft
- Arson, or the intentional burning of property
- Vandalism, or the defacing or destruction of property without the owner’s permission
- Embezzlement, or the taking of property entrusted to oneself
Potential Defenses to Charged Property Crimes
When you get charged with a property crime, you may have various defenses you could raise against your charges, depending on the facts and circumstances in your case.
Common defense strategies used in property crime cases include:
- Lack of Intent – A defendant charged with a property crime may argue that they did not act with the degree of intent required by the charged statute.
- Mistaken Identity – Defendants may argue that victims or witnesses mistakenly identified them as the perpetrator of the charged offense.
- Alibi – A defendant may present evidence to prove they were elsewhere at the time the alleged property crime occurred.
- Lawful Possession – A defendant may claim they lawfully possessed the property at issue, such as presenting evidence they purchased the property.
- Lack of Possession – For some property crimes, defendants may argue they did not have actual or constructive possession of the alleged stolen property.
- Unlawfully Obtained Evidence or Statements – Defendants may seek to exclude evidence from the prosecutors’ case by arguing that police unlawfully obtained evidence or statements through an improper search or an interrogation that violated the defendant’s rights.
Penalties for a Conviction for a Property Crime in Ohio
The penalties that a person may face if convicted of a property crime in Ohio can depend on the grading of the offense; the grading of many property crimes depends on the value of the property involved in the offense.
For felony property crimes, prison terms that a court may impose include:
- First-Degree Felony – Minimum prison term of three to 11 years, with a maximum sentence equal to the minimum sentence imposed plus 50 percent
- Second-Degree Felony – Minimum prison term of two to eight years, with a maximum sentence equal to the minimum prison term imposed plus 50 percent
- Third-Degree Felony – A prison term between 9 and 36 months
- Fourth-Degree Felony – A prison term between six and 18 months
- Fifth-Degree Felony – A prison term between six and 12 months
Furthermore, penalties for a misdemeanor property crime include:
- First-Degree Misdemeanor – Up to 180 days in jail
- Second-Degree Misdemeanor – Up to 90 days in jail
- Third-Degree Misdemeanor – Up to 60 days in jail
- Fourth-Degree Misdemeanor – Up to 30 days in jail
In certain circumstances, a Columbus court can choose to sentence a convicted defendant to probation instead of incarceration, which requires the defendant to follow various restrictions. Violations of probation can lead to revocation and the imposition of a prison or jail sentence.
Other penalties that a court can impose for a conviction for a property crime include fines and restitution obligations. Restitution requires a convicted defendant to reimburse their victim(s) for the financial losses caused by the defendant’s crime(s).
A conviction for a property crime can have consequences that extend beyond a criminal sentence. For example, non-citizens may face immigration consequences following a conviction for a property crime, such as loss of immigration status or deportation. Certain property crime convictions can disqualify an individual from certain licenses or government benefits. Felony convictions can also disqualify an individual from owning or possessing firearms. Finally, a conviction will result in a criminal record that can have permanent adverse effects on one’s ability to pursue employment, housing, financial, or educational opportunities.
Given the consequences of a conviction for a property crime, you need effective, aggressive legal representation that can help you fight for the best possible outcome to your charges under the facts of your case.
What to Do After Getting Arrested for a Property Crime
After being arrested for a property crime in Columbus, taking specific steps can help protect your rights and put you in a better position to defend yourself against criminal charges.
Things you should do when you get arrested for property crimes include:
- Invoke your right to remain silent by declining to answer the police’s questions about your charges or discussing your case with prosecutors
- Request to speak to an attorney as soon as possible while in custody
- Contact a criminal defense lawyer from McNamee Defense to discuss your options for facing your charges
How Can a Defense Attorney Help You Face Property Crime Charges?
A criminal defense lawyer from McNamee Defense can help you protect your rights and interests when you face prosecution for a property crime by:
- Thoroughly investigating your charges to obtain all available evidence
- Helping you understand your charges and the potential outcomes of your case, and providing you with honest advice to assist you with making informed decisions about how to handle your prosecution
- Vigorously challenging the prosecution’s case to help you pursue an efficient resolution of your charges
- Fighting for the best possible outcome for you, even if that means taking your charges to trial