Criminal Defense Lawyers

Manhattan Grand Larceny Lawyers

MANHATTAN GRAND LARCENY LAWYERS

Spodek Law Group, which is a nationwide federal defense law firm created by Todd Spodek, recognizes how serious it is when you face grand larceny charges in Manhattan. If you are charged with this criminal offense, you could face a number of penalties including, but not limited to: substantial prison time, which can impact your entire future. We understand how high the stakes are, and we do everything possible to protect your rights. Our goal is to fight for the outcome you need, at every stage of your case and make sure you don’t go to jail.

WHAT IS GRAND LARCENY IN MANHATTAN?

Grand larceny is a theft crime that involves taking property, which can be money or other valuables, without the owner’s permission. In New York, prosecutors look at the value of the items that were taken, and the way those items were taken, in order to figure out what degree of grand larceny applies. Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree starts at stolen property worth more than one thousand dollars (NY Penal Law §155.30). Higher degrees, like Grand Larceny in the Third Degree or Second Degree, focus on larger amounts and more aggravated situations (§155.35, §155.40). If you are convicted of any of these, you are likely to face a permanent criminal record that can harm your career, your family relationships, and your freedom.

When the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which can be found at manhattanda.org, decides to pursue charges, the prosecutors who handle your case will gather evidence that was collected by law enforcement. If that evidence was illegally obtained, it may be suppressed in court, which means the judge could rule it inadmissible. Without the evidence, the prosecution can only put forth an allegation – but without evidence, the case falls apart. This often leads to a weaker case against you. Nevertheless, prosecutors will try to prove you intentionally took property that was not yours. If they do prove it, you could face felony consequences.

If you are convicted of grand larceny: you may serve up to several years in prison, which means you lose your freedom. You also end up with a felony on your criminal record, which can make it difficult to find stable employment or maintain your professional licenses. These penalties are life-changing, and that is why it is crucial to have attorneys who get it and know how to challenge the state’s evidence.

WHY MANHATTAN TAKES GRAND LARCENY SERIOUSLY

The State of New York, which has extensive laws on theft crimes, treats grand larceny cases as major felonies. The city is a financial hub, and many high-value thefts happen in this city. As a result, local prosecutors often focus on trying to get lengthy sentences, which can mean up to 15 years of prison time in certain grand larceny convictions. We are brutally honest about these possibilities because we care about your success. We will not sugarcoat what can happen this is serious stuff, and you’re looking at major jail time. If you do not respond quickly when you face these charges, you run the risk of getting the maximum penalty.

Courts that handle felony cases in Manhattan will sometimes set a very high bail, which means you could remain behind bars while you wait for trial unless you can pay this very high bail. This situation is stressful, because it disrupts your family and work life. If you or someone close to you is going through this, you must take action right away and hire a law firm who can represent you. Our criminal defense attorneys look for ways to reduce or eliminate jail time, so you can focus on moving forward.

PENALTIES AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR YOU

The penalties that come with a grand larceny conviction are serious. They include:

• Lengthy Prison Terms: You could face a sentence that ranges from a few years to 15 years, depending on the degree of grand larceny and your criminal history. This leads to a loss of freedom, which means you cannot go to work and cannot be present for your loved ones.
• Hefty Fines: You may have to pay large sums of money to the court. That places a burden on your finances, which leads to debt and other hardships.
• Restitution: Courts often ask convicted individuals to pay back victims who suffered financial losses. If you already owe fines, the additional restitution could drain your resources, which jeopardizes your financial stability.
• Criminal Record: A felony record follows you indefinitely, which can prevent you from finding or keeping certain jobs, or from securing housing. It also shows up on background checks, which can affect your ability to get specific licenses or maintain professional credentials.

These penalties are devastating, so our focus is to seek a dismissal, a reduction in charges, or a favorable plea. Every legal victory gives you a better chance at preserving your life as you know it.

HOW SPODEK LAW GROUP HANDLES GRAND LARCENY DEFENSES

We are Spodek Law Group, and we have over 50 years of combined experience defending people against criminal charges. When we represent you in a Manhattan grand larceny case, we look for every chance to weaken the prosecution’s arguments. We are unafraid to challenge the evidence that was presented against you – often this is the best way to make the case go away. If the police violated your rights by searching your home or workplace without a valid warrant, we file all the different motions needed that seek to suppress the seized items. The result of suppression is significant: if the court rules in your favor, any evidence that was illegally obtained will be thrown out, which means the prosecutor’s case may collapse.

Sometimes, a larceny case relies on the credibility of witnesses who claim you participated in a theft. Our attorneys cross-examine these individuals, which can expose contradictions or motives to lie in order to get a better plea deal. If the testimonies crumble in court, your chances of a reduced charge or a complete dismissal improve. Even if the evidence is strong, we use tactics that were learned over decades of practice to negotiate plea bargains or secure alternative sentences. We treat every case as unique and don’t take a cookie cutter approach. If we see a path to fight the charges, we pursue it. If a plea is better, we tell you plainly, take the plea deal. We do not hide unpleasant truths, and we hold you accountable for following the strategy that is best for your outcome.

COMMON DEFENSE STRATEGIES

Defense strategies in grand larceny cases can vary, but here are a few that we often explore:

• Right of Ownership: If you can show that you believed you had permission to take or use the property, the prosecutor’s job of proving intent becomes much harder. That doubt can lead to a better outcome.
• Lack of Evidence: When prosecutors fail to provide convincing proof, we ask the court to dismiss. If crucial evidence is missing or contradictory, that can lead to reduced charges or an outright dismissal.
• Illegal Search and Seizure: Police who violated your constitutional rights can cause their own evidence to be ruled invalid. If the court rules the search was improper, it could force prosecutors to drop the case or reduce charges.
• Entrapment: In rare situations, an undercover operation that was carried out by law enforcement might push someone to commit a theft they would not have committed otherwise. If this happened, we present it to the court as a strong argument for throwing out the case.

These strategies are fact-based, which means we use testimony, documents, and other items that reinforce your defense.

HOW A CASE MOVES FORWARD IN MANHATTAN COURTS

If you are arrested for grand larceny, you will likely go before a judge in arraignment. At this hearing, the judge informs you of the charges, which means you will learn exactly what degree of larceny you face and the potential penalties. Then, bail might be set. If you cannot meet bail, you might remain in custody, which adds to the pressure you feel.

Once the arraignment is done, prosecutors gather more evidence that they plan to use against you. We gather our own evidence, which we use to build your defense. We talk to witnesses, examine police records, and actively seek out flaws in the investigation. If we see a weakness, like a chain-of-custody mistake that was made when storing evidence, we file a motion to dismiss or ask the court to throw out that evidence.

Some cases end with plea negotiations, which means you might agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge. If that can save you from a felony, or from spending years in prison, it may be wise to accept the plea deal. We will not hold back if we think a plea deal is unfair. Instead, we prepare for trial. If we go to trial, we present arguments before a jury or a judge. If the state fails to prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, we fight for a full acquittal, which means you walk away free of those charges.

BEING REAL ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN

You should not expect an easy experience in the New York legal system. If you choose not to hire a strong lawyer, you risk facing the full force of Manhattan prosecutors who may push for a maximum sentence – these prosecutors have unlimited resources. Even a first-time offender could end up in prison if the value of the stolen property is high. The DA’s office, which has many resources, is trained to handle major theft cases. That is why having the right legal help changes the trajectory of your case.

We are direct with our clients: if you do not cooperate or if you withhold information, that will damage your defense. We care about your outcome, and we will not accept excuses if you fail to provide documentation or show up to court. By working together openly, we can increase your chances of success. This is how we hold you to the high standards that lead to better resolutions.

WHY SPODEK LAW GROUP STANDS OUT

Our team has decades of experience handling complex larceny charges from coast to coast. We are available 24/7, and we focus on each client’s unique needs. Our lawyers have dealt with serious state and federal crimes and have been featured on major media outlets for our legal insights. We do not just focus on relationships with judges; we focus on you and what you need. This is very important to us. Your needs, your family, – that’s what matters to us. We also value transparency. That means you will know what our fees are, and you will know the steps we plan to take. If we think we can help you, we tell you; if we cannot, we will let you know that too. Our only objective is to work with clients we can truly help, so there is no confusion about expectations. We believe this approach builds trust and fosters the best environment for winning cases.

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Disclaimer: No recipient of this content, client or otherwise, should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information included here without seeking the advice of an attorney licensed in their state. This text is general information and may not reflect current legal developments. Spodek Law Group, which is based in New York and handles cases nationwide, disclaims all liability for actions taken or not taken based on the content provided.