Every jurisdiction, including Wagoner, has laws against taking another person’s property. Grand larceny Oklahoma is one such crime.
Petit vs. Grand Larceny Oklahoma?
Oklahoma divides larceny into petit (“small” in French) and grand (“large” in French). Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1703
The state has been taking steps to reduce the considerable size of its prison population. The legislature recently passed some new laws that change the level at which a crime like larceny becomes a felony.
Prior to the enactment of the new law, the amount differentiating grand larceny (a felony) from petit larceny (a misdemeanor) was $500. If the property stolen had a value of $500 or more, you could be convicted of a felony. Under this law, people were being convicted of felony grand larceny for stealing an iPhone or a laptop computer.
Under the new legislation, the threshold between petit and grand larceny rises to $1,000. It is hoped that raising the threshold for this non-violent crime will reduce the number of convictions for grand larceny.
Further Information
Larceny can be defined as taking someone else’s property, with the intent to deprive them of it, through the use of fraud or stealth. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1701
Grand larceny occurs in one of two basic situations — when the property taken is worth more than $1,000, and when the property, regardless of its value, is taken from the person of another. Taking property directly from another person’s body, be it a watch, purse, or the like, puts that person at greater risk of harm and is a more serious crime. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1704
Larceny in other cases is petit larceny.
Claiming that the property taken was either abandoned or lost may not be a criminal defense in Oklahoma. If you find property that gives you sufficient knowledge or means to determine its owner, you must take reasonable steps to find the owner. Otherwise, you could be convicted of larceny. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1702
Penalties
If convicted of grand larceny Oklahoma, you could face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. However, if the grand larceny was committed in a dwelling, house, or vessel, you could face up to eight years in prison. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1707
If convicted of petit larceny in Wagoner, you could face up to a year (or nights and weekends, at the court’s discretion) in jail. In addition, you could face a fine of up to $1,000. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1705
Initial Strategy Session: Wagoner Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are accused of petit or grand larceny Oklahoma, talk to an experienced Wagoner criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Do not wait and do not speak to the police. Remember that everything that you say to them can and will be used against you.
For a low-cost consultation, call Wirth Law Office – Wagoner at 918-485-0335.
As always, you have the option to enter a legal question in the form at the top right of this page.
