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According to Wisconsin statute 943.20(3), misdemeanor theft is a class A misdemeanor. The penalties in Wisconsin for a class A misdemeanor are a fine up to $10,000, 9 months in prison, or a combination of both.
Theft is classified as a misdemeanor when the stolen property is worth less than $2,500.
To find a defendant guilty of violating this statute, the district attorney would have to prove four elements:
Our criminal defense attorneys have negotiated multiple felonies down to misdemeanors, non-criminal tickets and outright dismissal of charges. Through negotiation or jury trial our Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys faithfully represent your interests to the fullest under criminal law. Grieve Law LLC has firearm, criminal defense, drug and DUI attorneys in Wisconsin.
The stages you can expect throughout the pendency of the case include your initial appearance, where your bail is decided, and a scheduling/status/further proceedings conference. The purpose of this conference is to let the court know how you plan to proceed with the case, whether it be taking it to trial or settling with a plea agreement. At this point what you can expect will diverge.
If you decide to take your case to trial, you will first have a jury status date to:
Your jury status date will be followed quickly by your jury trial date. Depending on the court’s schedule, it is possible your case will not take place on that date. Typically this is because other trials are set for the same day and time, and for a number of reasons another case may take precedence over yours. Your attorney will advise you regarding your decision to go to trial, but ultimately it is up to you.
If you choose not to take your case to trial you will likely proceed by accepting an offer made by the district attorney. In a case involving misdemeanor theft, restitution is likely going to play some sort of role in the offer.
Once you enter a plea your case will proceed to the sentencing stage of the case. During sentencing, the district attorney and your attorney will present arguments to the Judge in regards to how you should be sentenced following a conviction.
It is your attorney’s job to balance all of these factors in order to secure the best possible outcome.
If you have been charged with misdemeanor theft, it is important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney with a record of success in handling criminal defense cases. There are important nuances in misdemeanor theft cases that can make or break your case, and you need a skilled advocate to navigate them properly. Schedule a free case assessment with Grieve Law to find out your best option.
Contact Grieve Law’s misdemeanor theft defense attorneys for your free consultation.
Depending on the severity of the theft, you could be facing large penalties including time in state prison and fines.
Theft penalties in Wisconsin can escalate to a $10,000 fine, and even if a conviction doesn’t lead to that extreme of a penalty, you could still have it on your record for life.
