When you're facing a criminal charge for destroying or stealing someone's property, you might have several sentence components handed down upon a conviction. These may include incarceration or probation, fines, court costs and restitution. While most of these are common in all criminal cases, restitution isn't something that is associated with every criminal charge.
Know the purpose of restitution in some criminal matters
Malicious destruction of property can lead to time in jail, fines
Respect for other people's belongings is a fundamental skill that's learned early in life. It is also something that is covered under Maryland law. It sets up specific penalties for vandalism, which is formally known as malicious destruction of property.
Penalties and defense options for motor vehicle theft
Maryland Criminal Code Section 7-105 covers motor vehicle thefts. It sets the penalties for a conviction at up to five years in prison. If the vehicle is damaged or totaled, the law says that the defendant must pay the value of the car or the restoration cost to the owner. If you think about this, you can imagine how expensive this can become.
Serious penalties exist for theft of a motor vehicle
Theft laws are meant to deter people from trying to take things that don't belong to them. For some offenses, such as those involving low value items, the penalties might not seem very serious. Once you start looking into the higher value items, such as vehicles, you are looking at much more serious penalties.
Larceny charges vary based on several factors
Theft is a crime that is more common than what people may think. When it comes to this category of crimes, there are actually several forms of theft. One of these is larceny. This occurs when a person takes something from another person without the use of force. There are several points to remember if you are facing a larceny charge.
Always return property promptly when you borrow it
When you borrow something from a friend or neighbor, you should be sure to return it to them. This is common courtesy. Failing to return something to its rightful owner can lead to criminal charges, but there are a few things that must be considered in these cases. It is imperative that anyone in this position takes the time to remember some important points.
Intent is an important factor in theft cases
Borrowing things from a neighbor or friend isn't something that you might think will lead to issues down the road. But, what if you forget to return it? Most of the time, the person will remind you that you have their things; however, some might decide to take the petty road and report the item as stolen. This could open you up to criminal charges relating to theft of merchandise.
Don't neglect your defense on property crime charges
Anyone who is facing a property crime charge shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that the case is minor matter. Even a vandalism conviction could have a negative impact on your life. One way that this might happen is that future employees might see the conviction on a background check and assume that you aren't going to be able to protect company assets and use them correctly.
Credit card theft and fraud charges are serious matters
When you think of a theft crime, you might automatically consider burglary or shoplifting. But there is another type that you might not think about — credit card theft or fraud. This charge can be very serious, but you should know what it entails because there is a chance that you might unknowingly break the law.
Don't ruin your holidays with accusations of retail theft
The holidays are a time when most people want to give their loved ones gifts. Unfortunately, not everyone has the money or credit available to treat the people on their list to the gifts they want to give them. Remember that trying to sneak merchandise out of stores without paying the full retail price that the merchant is asking can lead to you facing criminal charges.
