Georgia Mother and Son Face 21 Felonies

Bibb County authorities have arrested a mother and son on a total of 21 felonies.

The charges stem from allegedly ten years of stealing from a local sales company. The estimated amount of stolen funds is currently over $3 million. The theft began in 2009 according to investigators.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind the offense of theft by taking in today's post. There are so many different types of theft crimes in the state of Georgia. However, theft by taking is by far the most common theft crime committed in the state.

Theft by Taking in Georgia

Theft by Taking in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §16-8-2 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. 

All theft crimes are classified similarly - ranging from theft by receiving in Georgia to theft of trade secrets in Georgia.

Therefore the theft crime can either be a misdemeanor or felony in Georgia.

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 valued at more than $500, the crime will more than likely be deemed a felony. The consequences of a felony include a prison sentence of no less than one year and no more than ten years.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in the state of Georgia, call our offices now.