You’ve been charged with stealing. However, not all theft charges are the same in Missouri.
5 Kinds of Missouri Theft Crimes
All kinds of theft involve taking or keeping property (or services) that does not belong to you. Missouri defines theft into different categories, including:
1. Class A Misdemeanors
Class A misdemeanors include:
- Shoplifting if the value of goods is $300 or below
- Taking or receiving any stolen property with a value of $500 or less
The potential penalties for Class A misdemeanor are one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.
2. Class A Felony Thefts
Class A felonies include:
- Robberies where the suspect is armed or appears armed
- Bank robberies
- Any theft that involves harming or threatening to harm another person
The potential penalties for a Class A felony include a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years.
3. Class B Felony Thefts
Class B felonies include:
- Armed burglaries
- Robberies
- The theft of any property that is worth $25,000 or more
The potential consequences of a Class B felony include a prison term of five to 15 years.
4. Class C Felony Thefts
Class C felonies include:
- Firearm theft
- Auto theft
- Aircraft theft
- Watercraft theft
- Check fraud
- Unarmed burglaries
- Credit card theft
- Explosive weapon theft
- Theft of an American flag that is on display
- Theft of original wills, copies of court documents, voter registration lists, or copies of legislative documents
- Theft of controlled substances and certain chemicals
- Livestock theft
- Theft of any property with a value between $500 and $25,000
A Class C felony is punishable by one to seven years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or a fine of double the value of the stolen property up to $20,000, if the stolen property was sold.
5. Class D Felony Thefts
Class D felonies include:
- Stealing an animal
- A theft if you have two or more theft-related convictions within the last 10 years
A Class D felony is punishable by up to four years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or a fine of twice what the person gained from the theft up to $20,000.
One Thing to Do After Any Missouri Theft Charge
A theft conviction and sentence could change your life. Not only could you spend a considerable amount of time in prison and have to pay a substantial fine, but you will also have a criminal record.
We understand what you are facing, and our experienced criminal defense attorney is here to help. Contact us as soon as possible to set up an initial meeting and learn more about what you can do to protect your future if you’ve been charged with theft in Missouri.