Myrtle Beach Property Crime Lawyer

Property Crimes Defense Attorneys in Myrtle Beach, SC

The property crimes defense attorneys at Axelrod and Associates have years of experience defending clients against criminal accusations in Myrtle Beach, SC.

How much experience? Over 100 years combined legal experience…

If you have been charged with any kind of property crime in the Grand Strand area, we have the experience you need to get the best possible resolution in your case. We will:

• Meet with you to discuss your case and determine if we are the right law firm for you,
• Investigate your case, gather evidence, and locate and interview any potential witnesses,
• Get and review all evidence that the prosecution intends to use against you,
• Retain and consult with expert witnesses or investigators when needed,
• Negotiate with your prosecutor for a dismissal of your charges, pretrial diversion when appropriate, a reduction in charges, or to determine what their best plea offer will be in your case, and
• Get your case dismissed, find the best possible outcome, or try your case to a jury, depending on the facts of your case and your goals.

Burglary Defense Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, SC

Burglary charges are among SC’s most serious offenses – like murder, burglary 1^st degree carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.

There are four types of burglary charges in SC:

• First-degree burglary: where the person enters a dwelling and statutory aggravating factors are present (for example, the burglary happened in the nighttime, or the person had a gun during the burglary). Burglary first degree carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison.
• Second-degree burglary violent: where the person entered a building (like an office building or storage shed where people do not sleep) and aggravating factors are present. Burglary second degree carries up to 15 years in prison.
• Second-degree burglary non-violent: where the person entered a dwelling but there are no aggravating factors. Burglary second degree carries up ten years in prison.
• Third-degree burglary: where the person entered a building and there are no aggravating factors.

Armed Robbery and Strong-Armed Robbery

Armed robbery charges in SC have a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence and carry up to 30 years in prison.

An armed robbery is where someone uses a deadly weapon to take property from another person – it also covers situations where someone just pretends to use a deadly weapon (pointing your finger inside your jacket pocket may also be considered armed robbery).

Strong-armed robbery is where a person uses force to take someone else’s property, but they do not use a deadly weapon. Strong-armed robbery carries up to 15 years in prison, but, unlike armed robbery charges, it is eligible for a YOA sentence if the defendant otherwise qualifies.

Larceny Charges in SC

Larceny is another word for theft.

Larceny charges in SC are based on the dollar value of the property alleged to have been stolen – petit larceny, for example, is where someone takes property that is worth $2000 or less and carries up to 30 days in jail.

Grand larceny is where the property is worth more than $2000 – if the property is worth more than $2000 but less than $10,000, it carries up to five years in prison, and, if the property is worth $10,000 or more, it carries up to ten years in prison.

Other theft-related charges in SC include:

• Receiving or possession of stolen goods,
• Shoplifting,
• Possession of a stolen vehicle,
• Breach of trust with fraudulent intent,
• Temporary unlawful use of vehicle,
• Obtaining signature or property by false pretenses,
• Theft of electric current (utilities),
• Failure to return rental property,
• Breaking into motor vehicles, and
• Purse snatching.

Shoplifting Defense Lawyers in Myrtle Beach

Shoplifting charges can happen to anyone – young, old, rich, poor, it doesn’t matter. Loss-prevention employees at many of the larger department store chains and other stores are trained to aggressively prevent shoplifting.

The problem is, they often get it wrong and cause the arrests of people who did not intend to shoplift – and there must be an intent to shoplift before you can be convicted. For example, you are not guilty of shoplifting if you:

• Absent-mindedly forgot to pay for something,
• Placed an item or items into your bag that you intended to pay for when you got to the register,
• Walked past the registers with an item to retrieve a basket or shopping cart, or
• Were with someone else who shoplifted but you did not participate.

If you were wrongfully arrested for shoplifting, your Myrtle Beach shoplifting defense attorney on the Axelrod team will carefully review your evidence to help you determine whether you have a civil lawsuit against the store that had you arrested, the police, or both.

Forgery, Breach of Trust, and Financial Crimes

Forgery charges in SC can apply to any “instrument of writing” that was “falsely made,” forged, counterfeited, or published as true (even if you did not forge the document yourself).

You could be convicted of forgery for committing a forgery yourself, causing someone else to commit the forgery, or helping someone else commit forgery.

Although most people think of forgery as a forged check or a forged signature, it can also apply to money orders, affidavits, court records, land plats, or even a community service time sheet (yes, they will charge you with forgery if you fake a community service time sheet).

The Myrtle Beach property crimes defense attorneys on the Axelrod team have experience handling different types of forgery charges and can help with other SC financial crimes including:

• Financial transaction card fraud,
• Financial identity theft,
• Breach of trust with fraudulent intent,
• Money laundering,
• Embezzlement of public funds, or

SC Property Crimes Where the Punishment is Based on the Value of the Property

Many of SC’s property crimes base the potential punishment on the dollar value of the property alleged to have been stolen, including shoplifting, larceny, possession of stolen goods, breach of trust, forgery, and other property crimes or financial crimes.

The potential punishment for these property crimes is:

• $2000 or less: no more than 30 days,
• More than $2000 but less than $10,000: up to five years in prison, and
• $10,000 or more: up to ten years in prison.

Forgery is similar, but the potential punishment is:

• No dollar value: up to three years in prison (this would include a forged community service time sheet, for example),
• Less than $10,000: up to five years in prison, and
• $10,000 or more: up to ten years in prison.

Property Crime Enhancements in SC

If you are charged with any SC property crime where the punishment is determined by the value of the property, your charges can be enhanced to a felony that carries up to ten years in prison.

For example, if have two prior convictions for petit larceny and possession of stolen goods less than $2000, you can be sentenced to ten years in prison for shoplifting a ten-cent piece of candy…

GOT AXELROD?

If you have been charged with a property crime in SC – or think you are under investigation for a property crime – you need to consult with an experienced property crimes defense lawyer immediately. Before you talk to police or investigators.

Call 843-916-9300 or complete our contact form for a free initial consultation.