Property Crimes And Penalties In The Virginia Juvenile Law System

Virginia teens who are facing accusations of being involved in criminal acts need to understand what they’re dealing with. An example is property crimes. These acts can be minor with limited penalties and more significant with long-term consequences. When it comes to a crime like larceny, it is imperative that the accused person know what they are up against.

Petit larceny is when there is theft of money or goods from a person that has a value of less than five dollars. If the larceny is not from a person and the item is valued at less than $200, then it is also petit larceny. This is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Grand larceny is when a person has an item or money stolen from him or her as an individual and its value is five dollars or more. It is also grand larceny if it is not from an individual and it is valued at $200 or more. Stealing a firearm is also classified as grand larceny.

Shoplifting is another type of larceny. This involves taking goods or concealing them, changing price tags or other markings denoting prices, or assisting another in performing these acts so as not to pay the full price. If its value is less than $200, it will be petit larceny. For items worth $200 or more, it is grand larceny. If a person is convicted of grand larceny, there can be a jail term of a minimum of one year and a maximum of twenty years. It can be at the discretion of the jury or court to sentence the person to up to twelve months in jail, fine them up to $2,500, or both.

Burglary occurs when the home of another is broken into and entered with the intention to commit a felony or any other larceny. This is a Class 3 felony. If the accused person had a deadly weapon in possession, it is a Class 2 felony. A Class 2 felony can result in being imprisoned for 20 years to life with a fine of up to $100,000. A Class 3 felony can result in imprisonment for five to 20 years and a fine of up to $100,000. Juveniles who are facing these penalties can have their lives changed drastically. Lodging a strong defense with the help of an attorney experienced with the juvenile law system is a key to handling these charges.

Source: virginiarules.com, “What types of crimes involve taking property?,” accessed on Aug. 31, 2015