Property Crimes

Charges that seem routine can still carry serious, lasting consequences.

Property crimes include a broad group of offenses – vandalism, receiving or possessing stolen property, trespass, possession of burglary tools, and related charges. Many are filed as misdemeanors, but depending on the value of the property, the defendant’s record, and the circumstances, they can also be charged as felonies. For people with professional licenses, immigration concerns, or prior records, even a lower-level conviction can have outsized effects.

The facts behind these charges are often more complicated than they first appear. Disputes between business partners, former roommates, landlords and tenants, or family members can end up treated as criminal matters when they are, at heart, civil disagreements about who owns what. In other cases, the key question is identity, or whether the person knew the property was stolen. And California’s recent changes to theft and property-crime laws have shifted how prosecutors can charge repeat offenses and aggregate losses, making careful analysis more important than ever.

IredaleRoth has substantial experience resolving property-crime cases for clients. We have gone to trial in cases alleging burglary, and we have favorably resolved cases alleging such charges with reduced charges and similar favorable outcomes. In some instances, we have been able to show that the client is really suffering from addiction or a mental-health episode and obtained alternative outcomes that got them needed support.

When facing a property-crime charge, common considerations include:

• How is the value of the property being calculated? Value thresholds often determine whether a case is a misdemeanor or a felony, and the prosecution’s numbers can frequently be challenged.

• Is this really a criminal matter? Where the underlying dispute is civil in nature, persuading prosecutors to step back can resolve the case entirely.

• Is diversion or restitution an option? Many property cases can be resolved through diversion programs or restitution agreements that avoid a conviction altogether.