Carolina Criminal & DUI Lawyer Blog
What is embezzlement? What are the long-term consequences of stealing something? Is larceny a felony or misdemeanor in South Carolina?
A conviction for larceny (unlawfully taking the property of someone) carries consequences regardless of how much the item was worth, or how much money you’ve been accused of taking.
That’s because “crimes of moral turpitude” or “dishonesty” carry a significant social stigma. The court system takes shoplifting in SC and larceny seriously. So should you.
Whether that be a low-level misdemeanor charge (like petit larceny) all the way up to very serious felony charges (like grand larceny, simply being accused can carry a heavy burden and seriously damage your reputation.
You may lose your job simply for being charged. No one wants an employee known to be a thief.
As Carolina criminal lawyers in SC and NC, we understand the secondary consequences that may come from an arrest and taken to jail. We want to help you.
What is Larceny in South Carolina?
Allegations of larceny are the types of criminal charges that can be both a felony or misdemeanor in South Carolina. That’s because the South Carolina criminal laws take into consideration what took place and the value of the “personal property” subject of the theft.
As you might imagine, felony charges in South Carolina are more serious.
The South Carolina Code of Laws sets forth what is illegal in Title 16 – “Crimes and Offenses” in South Carolina. It falls under Chapter 13 of the Code and is entitled, “Forgery, Larceny, Embezzlement, False Pretenses and Cheats.”
Grand Larceny in SC is the theft of personal property belonging to another that is valued more than $2,000. The South Carolina Code of Laws sets forth that Grand Larceny is a felony criminal offense.
What is Petit larceny in South Carolina? What is Grand larceny?
If you are convicted of the crime of petit larceny in South Carolina, a fine “must” not exceed $1,000. The maximum jail sentence for misdemeanor larceny charges is 30 days of “imprisonment.”
As stated, felony criminal charges in South Carolina are substantially more serious. A conviction of grand larceny gives the Judge in criminal court a tremendous amount of discretion in sentencing.
Grand larceny in South Carolina is considered a felony conviction. The fine is “in the discretion of the court” OR a period of imprisonment of “not more than”
- 5 years if the value of the property is more than $2,000 but less than $10,000
- 10 years (of imprisonment) if the item(s) stolen is $10,000 or more
How can criminal defense lawyers Rock Hill SC help?
We want to do everything that we can do to reduce these charges or get charges dismissed and off of your record so that you don’t have to handle the secondary consequences that may come.
Tips for hiring a “Criminal Lawyer” in South Carolina
If you or a friend or anyone that you know has been charged and you have questions, you would like to talk, please feel free to call.
Call Defense Attorney Chris Beddow now. You may also email him directly at: Chris@CarolinaAttorneys.com
Mr. Beddow is the sole attorney associated with our law office who is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Our law firm provides legal consultation for criminal charges free of charge.
Defense attorney Bill Powers is licensed only in the State of North Carolina and therefore limits his practice to legal matters in the Charlotte-Metro region, Monroe NC, Iredell County, and Gaston County NC.
CALL NOW: 704-342-4357
Helpful Information About Criminal Charges
- South Carolina Code § 16-13-110: Shoplifting
- What’s the Difference Between Embezzlement and False Pretense
- What Happens When Convicted of a Felony?