Elementary School Teacher Steals Student’s $750 Violin in DeKalb County

A teacher at Brockett Elementary in DeKalb County, Kalif Jones, has been accused and arrested for allegedly stealing a violin from a student during lunch in the cafeteria. 

The violin is valued at $750. According to reports, Jones stole the violin to pay a citation. He was accused and told that the incident was recorded on security cameras. He then allegedly admitted his guilt and was arrested.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney, I will outline the theft offense faced by Jones in today's post.

Theft by Taking in Georgia

Georgia Law defines theft by taking in Georgia as:

When a person unlawfully takes or, being in lawful possession thereof, unlawfully appropriates any property of another with the intention of depriving him of the property, regardless of the manner in which property is taken or appropriated. O.C.G.A. §16-8-2.

To define it simply - theft by taking occurs whenever someone takes someone else's property with the intention of withholding the property from the owner. 

If convicted of theft by taking, the penalty depends on the value of the property taken. This is common with most theft crimes. 

When the theft involves property valued at $500 or less, then the crime will be deemed a misdemeanor in Georgia. The consequences of a misdemeanor include a fine of no more than $1,000 and a jail sentence of no more than 12 months.

When the theft involves property worth more than $500, the crime will more than likely be deemed a felony. The consequences of a felony include a prison sentence of at least one year up to ten years.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer to schedule a consultation today. No one should face a criminal offense on their own much less attempt to defend their own case without proper representation. 

We specialize in applying Georgia Criminal Defenses and negotiation. We are here to help you and to work hard on your behalf.