Theft Lawyer in Kansas City
Stealing in missouri
If you've been accused of stealing under missouri law, you've been accused of taking property or services from another, either without consent, or by means of deceit or coercion. This is a serious charge and can mean:
- Three to ten years in prison plus up to $10,000 in fines if the property stolen is valued at more than $25,000.
- Prison time up to seven years and fines up to $10,000 if the property stolen is $750 or more.
Robbery in Missouri
Robbery in the second degree is the crime of stealing plus the use of force causing injury to another, making it an even more serious crime than stealing. The crime of robbery is a Class B felony with prison time of five to fifteen years. You need experienced felony defense lawyers.
If, in the course of the robbery, there are additional factors, the charge becomes first degree robbery and a Class A felony. Conviction can mean a sentence of ten to thirty years, or life, imprisonment. The additional factors include that can lead to a first degree robbery charge include:
- physical injury to a person, or
- being armed with a deadly weapon, or
- the use or threat to use a dangerous instrument against another person, or
- the threat to use anything that appears to be a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or
- stealing a controlled substance from a pharmacy
Defenses to Theft and Robbery Crimes
Despite the harsh consequences you face, you may have a valid defense, have legal options available to you, or may have even been wrongly accused of the serious charges against you. It is very important to talk to a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after you're arrested to discuss your options. Defenses to theft crimes can include a belief that you were entitled to the property or a belief that the owner of the property would have allowed the taking of the property, among others.
Don't Fight the Charges Against You Alone
The experienced attorneys at the KC Defense Counsel have valuable experience defending those accused of serious criminal crimes including stealing and robbery. If you've been charged with one of the theft crimes, call the team at the KC Defense Counsel to schedule a free initial consultation and to discuss the facts of your case.