Punishments for Felony Theft in Arizona

If you think that theft charges are likely to result in a slap on the wrist, you couldn’t be more wrong. This is especially the case when it comes to felony theft. The punishments for felony theft in Arizona are incredibly harsh, and judges often sentence those who are found guilty to jail time. However, an arrest is not the same thing as a conviction. At the Law Office of James E. Novak, our dedicated Tempe criminal defense lawyer has extensive experience helping clients avoid the worst consequences of a conviction. We can help identify the best possible defense in your case and will aggressively defend your rights at every stage of the process.

For the most part, all Arizona theft crimes are contained in the same law, Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1802. Section 13-1802 outlines the various types of theft, which include:

• Taking another’s property with the intent of not returning it;
• Shoplifting;
• Theft of services;
• Possessing stolen property;
• Keeping lost property; and
• Taking a vulnerable adult’s property.

Under the Arizona theft statute, any theft involving goods or services valued at more than $1,000 is considered a felony offense. However, there are several classifications of felony theft, ranging from a Class 6 felony (the least serious) to a Class 2 felony (the most serious). These classifications are based on the value of the goods or services:

• $25,000 or more – Class 2 felony
• $4,000 or more – Class 3 felony
• $3,000 or more – Class 4 felony
• $2,000 or more – Class 5 felony
• $1,000 or more – Class 6 felony

However, there are a few specific situations where these classifications do not apply.

• Theft of a firearm, regardless of value, is at least a Class 6 felony
• Theft of an animal for the purposes of animal fighting is at least a Class 6 felony

In either of these cases, the crime may be graded as a more serious felony if the value of the firearm or animal was greater than $1,000, but it will never be considered a misdemeanor.

The severity of a felony theft conviction depends on the gradation of the offense, as outlined below:

A jail sentence between four to ten years, with a presumptive sentence of 5 years.

A jail sentence between 2.5 and 7 years, with a presumptive sentence of 3.5 years.

A jail sentence between 1.5 and 3 years, with a presumptive sentence of 2.5 years.

A jail sentence between 9 months and 2 years, with a presumptive sentence of 1.5 years.

A jail sentence between 6 months and 18 months, with a presumptive sentence of 1 year.

In addition to incarceration, Arizona law permits judges to impose fines up to $150,000 for anyone convicted of a felony theft crime. This is in addition to any restitution ordered by the judge. It is also important to recognize that having any felony conviction on your record, especially for a crime involving dishonesty, will make it much harder to obtain a job and may prevent you from obtaining or renewing certain professional certifications in the future.

The punishments for felony theft in Arizona are severe. So, if you are currently facing charges in Tempe or anywhere in Maricopa County, it is essential that you reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Office of James E. Novak, our felony theft defense attorney has more than two decades of experience helping clients beat even the toughest cases. Attorney Novak commands an impressive knowledge of the various defenses to theft crimes and carefully reviews each of his clients’ cases to identify the best possible defense. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with Attorney Novak today, call 480-413-1499.