Embezzlement occurs every day throughout every type of industry. Once a crime that was built primarily around greed, acts of embezzlement often occur due to workplace pressure, bribery, and sometimes out of desperate need. The reason embezzlement occurs doesn’t change the fact that it’s considered a serious crime, with consequences that significantly affect your reputation and life.
If you’re facing embezzlement charges, it’s important to know that a strategic defense to fight the charges against you can make all the difference in the outcome. Here’s what you need to know about embezzlement in California and why it’s important to work with an experienced white collar crime attorney to defend your case.
Embezzlement in California
Under California law, embezzlement is considered a form of theft. However, it’s different from the general crime of theft in that it involves illegally acquiring property, including money, that someone else either entrusted to you or that you otherwise had access to. Embezzlement is primarily a business related crime that includes theft by an employee who had access to funds or property belonging to the employer.
In California, embezzlement is considered a wobbler offense, meaning that depending on the circumstances, it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony. The main defining element is the value of the property involved. In cases where the alleged embezzled amount is less than $950, the charge will typically be a misdemeanor. If the amount exceeds $950, you can be charged with felony embezzlement.
The fact that embezzlement is a wobbler crime means that it’s incredibly important to work with an experienced white collar crime attorney who can work to lessen the charges against you and defend you against the consequences of criminal embezzlement.
Preparing a Defense Against Embezzlement
If you’ve been accused of embezzlement, you know how stressful it is to deal with all the legal proceedings and the unknowns. An experienced embezzlement attorney can lift some of this stress off your shoulders by preparing a defense against the charges against you.
Charges of embezzlement often aren’t as clear cut as they seem on the surface. There are often many elements that influence an embezzlement case. For instance, a significant number of embezzlement cases are eventually dropped simply because there isn’t enough sufficient evidence to establish guilt. An embezzlement attorney is an important asset in establishing that the evidence against you lacks the clout to stand up in court.
Lack of sufficient evidence isn’t the only possible defense in an embezzlement case. Other possible defenses include duress, lack of intent, entrapment, incapacity, and in some cases, even intoxication. An experienced attorney can look at the circumstances of your case and determine the best defense to get the charges against you dismissed.
Connect with a San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney
When you’re facing embezzlement charges, you have too much at stake to risk trusting your future in the hands of anyone other than one of the most experienced San Diego criminal defense attorneys. When you’re in need of skilled criminal defense, you can count on John Kirby Law. Contact John Kirby Law to discuss a strategic defense for your case today.
