Hampshire Larceny & Theft Lawyer

Defending the Accused Throughout Franklin, Hampden, & Berkshire Counties

If you are facing larceny or theft charges, reach out to an experienced defense attorney for legal representation immediately. A good lawyer can make the difference between maximum penalties and minimum, or even reduced, sentencing. Attorney Jesse Adams has been defending the accused for 15 years, and he has only ever represented defendants. As a result, you can trust that he is on your side as a defendant; throughout his years of practice, he has stayed committed to the defense of charged individuals, so he knows how to skillfully navigate the criminal justice system in the best interests of the accused.

Schedule a free consultation with Jesse Adams Law Firm LLC to discuss your larceny or theft charges in more detail. 

What Is a Crime of Larceny?

In Massachusetts, larceny is a broad criminal category that includes offenses like theft and embezzlement. Larceny is defined as the unlawful taking of another person’s property and doing so with the specific intent to permanently deprive them of that property. 

Examples of larceny might be:

• Fraudulently obtaining another person’s property
• Stealing someone’s property
• Unlawfully converting another person’s property with the intent to steal (embezzlement)

Stolen property in larceny cases includes any item of personal property, as well as things like land, tangible or intangible data, and digital communication services.

Penalties & Sentencing for Larceny

Larceny offenses in Massachusetts are penalized based on the value of the property allegedly stolen and the type of property. In some cases, the court may also evaluate any special characteristics of the alleged victim, such as if they were an elderly person. 

The penalty range includes:

• Stolen property worth $1,200 or less: Misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or $1,500 in fines
• Stolen property worth more than $1,200: Felony punishable by up to five years in prison or $25,000 in fines with two years in jail
• Theft of a firearm: Up to five years in state prison or $25,000 in fines and two years in jail
• Theft of a motor vehicle: 15 years in prison or 2.5 years in jail and/or $15,000 in fines
• Theft involving an alleged victim with a disability or above the age of 60: Up to 2.5 years in jail and $1,000 in fines for stolen property worth $250 or less; or up to 10 years in state prison or 2.5 years in jail and a $50,000 fine for stolen property worth more than $250

If the defendant is a first-time larceny offender and the offense is simple larceny (not amounting to a significant amount of money), they may be able to pay full restitution to the alleged victim in order to receive a jail sentence instead of a prison sentence.

On the other hand, defendants with prior convictions for larceny (repeat offenders) may face enhanced penalties. For instance, an offender who has been convicted of a second larceny offense or who is facing three simultaneous larceny charges may be criminally labeled as a “common and notorious thief” and will face up to 20 years in prison or 2.5 years in jail.