Practice area – Theft
Charged with theft in Riverside County?
Petty theft, grand theft, grand theft auto. Penalties depend on dollar value, type of property, and prior record. Prop 47 changed the landscape – and may apply to your case retroactively.
Available 24/7
What you’re facing
Theft (PC 484, 487) penalties scale with dollar value and prior record. Petty theft (under $950): misdemeanor, up to 6 months jail. Grand theft ($950 or more): wobbler. Felony version: 16 months, 2, or 3 years state prison. Grand theft auto (PC 487(d)(1)): wobbler with vehicle value as a factor. Theft of a firearm: always grand theft regardless of value. Prop 47 (2014) made many theft offenses misdemeanor unless value exceeds $950 – and applies retroactively to old felony convictions.
Defenses I build
Theft cases hinge on value, intent, and the claim-of-right defense. I challenge dollar amount disputes – particularly cases right at the $950 threshold. I argue claim of right when the defendant reasonably believed the property was theirs. I dispute identification through eyewitness reliability and forensic gaps. For prior felony theft convictions, I file Prop 47 petitions for retroactive reduction. My recent results include a grand theft auto with drug sales and a strike prior resolved through Drug Rehab Program rather than state prison.
Theft Case Results
Charged With
Grand Theft Auto + Drug Sales + Strike Prior
Outcome
Drug Rehab Program
Theft – Riverside Co.
Charged With
Assault w/ Deadly Weapon + Great Bodily Injury
Outcome
Placeholder
Theft – Riverside Co.
Charged With
Take-Over Robbery, Kidnapping, 3 Strikes – Multiple life counts
Outcome
12 Years
Theft – Riverside Co.
Charged With
Case result available on consultation
Outcome
Placeholder
Theft – Riverside Co.
Charged With
Case result available on consultation
Outcome
12 Years
Theft – Riverside Co.
Charged With
ADW + Robbery + GBI + Gang Affiliation
Outcome
NOT GUILTY
Theft – Riverside Co.
Charged With
Attempted Murder – Facing 7 yrs to Life
Outcome
Misdemeanor, Time Served
Theft – Riverside Co.
Common Questions
What is the $950 threshold?
California defines violent crimes broadly: murder and attempted murder, assault and assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code 245), robbery and armed robbery, kidnapping, criminal threats, and any offense resulting in great bodily injury. Many include gang or firearm enhancements that stack additional years on top of the base sentence. Most are also Strike Offenses, meaning the conviction follows you for life and doubles your exposure on any future felony.
Can I get a felony theft reduced to misdemeanor?
Often yes. If the original charge was a wobbler (chargeable as misdemeanor or felony), PC 17(b) allows reduction after sentencing. Prop 47 applies retroactively – many prior felony theft convictions can be reduced to misdemeanors today. Reduction restores firearm rights, removes the felony from background checks, and often qualifies you for additional relief like a PC 1203.4 dismissal.
Does Prop 47 still apply to my case?
Yes, Prop 47 remains in effect. It applies (1) prospectively to new cases where value is under $950 and (2) retroactively to old felony convictions for the same offenses. Prop 47 petitions can be filed years after the original conviction. The petition asks the court to redesignate the conviction as a misdemeanor. Eligibility depends on the original charge, your record, and whether you completed the original sentence.
Types of Theft Charges I Defend
Theft offenses cover a wide range of conduct and severity. The classification matters for exposure, eligibility for relief, and future case impact.
Petty Theft (PC 484, 488)
Under $950. Misdemeanor. Eligible for diversion in many cases.
Grand Theft (PC 487)
$950 or more. Wobbler.
Grand Theft Auto (PC 487(d)(1))
Vehicle theft. Wobbler. Value of vehicle is a factor.
Theft of a Firearm
Always grand theft regardless of value.
Petty Theft with Priors (PC 666)
Wobbler when specific prior theft convictions exist.
Embezzlement (PC 503)
Theft from employer or fiduciary. Wobbler.
Receiving Stolen Property (PC 496)
Wobbler. Subject to Prop 47 reductions.
Identity Theft (PC 530.5)
Wobbler. Often charged federally for large schemes.
Shoplifting (PC 459.5)
Defined by Prop 47 – entry into a store with intent to steal under $950. Misdemeanor.
Prop 47 and Retroactive Reductions
Prop 47 (2014) reduced many felony theft offenses to misdemeanors. Critical applications:
- Petty theft with priors is no longer automatically a felony
- Many theft offenses can be retroactively reduced (Prop 47 petitions)
- The $950 threshold applies to most theft, receiving stolen property, and forgery offenses
- Defendants with prior felony theft convictions can often petition for resentencing
- Successful Prop 47 reductions restore gun rights and remove felony from background checks
If you have prior felony theft convictions, you may be eligible for retroactive reduction. We evaluate Prop 47 eligibility on every theft case – new and old.
