Greenville Theft Lawyer

Petit larceny, sometimes referred to as petty theft, involves the unlawful taking of property valued at $2,000 or less. Although it is classified as a misdemeanor, a conviction can still carry significant criminal penalties, including up to 30 days in jail and fines of up to $1,000.

Even at the misdemeanor level, a theft conviction can create a permanent criminal record and affect employment opportunities. Because prosecutors must still prove intent and value beyond a reasonable doubt, challenging the evidence and the alleged property value can be an important part of an effective defense strategy.

A person may face shoplifting charges under South Carolina criminal law if they:

• Steal, move, or hide retail store items 
• Change, move, or remove price tags in a store
• Switch an item’s packaging or container with another item in the store
• Attempt to leave the store without paying for merchandise in their possession

South Carolina law treats shoplifting as a separate offense from general larceny, and penalties can increase based on the value of the merchandise and prior convictions. 1st offense shoplifting in South Carolina is typically charged as a misdemeanor, but it can still carry jail time, fines, and a permanent criminal record.

Grand larceny, sometimes referred to as grand theft, involves the unlawful taking of property stolen with a value exceeding $2,000. The seriousness of the charge increases as the value of the property rises, and the grand larceny punishment in South Carolina can include several years in prison, depending on the amount involved.

The prosecution must prove both the unlawful taking and the value of the property stolen beyond a reasonable doubt, making valuation disputes and intent central issues in many of these cases.

Robbery is a serious felony offense in South Carolina that involves taking property from another person by force, intimidation, or threat. Unlike larceny or shoplifting, robbery requires the use of violence or the threat of violence during the taking. Even without a weapon, a robbery conviction can carry a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Armed robbery is an even more severe charge. It applies when a person is accused of committing robbery while armed with a deadly weapon or while claiming to have one. Armed robbery carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years and can result in up to 30 years of incarceration. Because of the mandatory sentencing structure, these cases demand immediate, strategic defense from a skilled Greenville robbery defense lawyer like AnneMarie Odom.

Financial and identity theft offenses are commonly categorized as white-collar crimes because they involve deception, misrepresentation, or misuse of financial information rather than physical force. These cases may include allegations of identity theft, credit card fraud, check fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, extortion, or other forms of criminal fraud.

South Carolina prosecutors often build these cases using financial records, electronic communications, bank statements, and digital data. Because the evidence can be complex and document-heavy, effective defense requires careful analysis and planning. In some situations, charges may be brought at the state level, while more serious or multi-state allegations can trigger a federal investigation.

If you are under investigation or facing charges, working with a knowledgeable white collar crime attorney can help protect your rights, evaluate the strength of the evidence, and develop a defense strategy specific to your allegations.

Embezzlement charges in South Carolina are a type of white-collar offense that occurs when a person entrusted with money or property unlawfully takes or misuses it for personal benefit. Unlike other theft crimes, embezzlement typically involves someone in a position of trust, such as an employee, manager, bookkeeper, or financial officer.

Embezzlement can happen on the job in many different ways, including:

• Raising product prices just to keep the excess money
• Taking money out of a cash register
• Transferring work checks into a personal bank account
• Stealing business products or office supplies for personal use
• Modifying the business’s financial accounts in order to hide stolen items or money
• Creating a nonexistent employee on the business’s payroll
• Modifying employee time cards

Theft of rental property is a specific offense under South Carolina law that involves failing to return rented or leased items as agreed. This charge can apply when someone keeps equipment, tools, vehicles, furniture, or other rented property beyond the contract period without permission. In some cases, it may also involve selling, pawning, or otherwise disposing of rented items.

Unlike other theft offenses, these cases often center on whether there was intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property or whether the dispute is contractual in nature. If you are facing this type of allegation, a Greenville criminal defense lawyer can review the rental contract, payment history, and communications between the parties to build an effective defense.

Like other larceny charges, the penalties for automobile-related theft crimes in SC depend on the value of the stolen property. Since most vehicles are worth more than $2,000, however, these crimes are often treated as felonies. More severe charges exist for crimes like carjacking, which can carry up to 30 years in prison if serious injury occurs, or joyriding, which has its own set of penalties.

Breaking into cars or tampering with parts can also be prosecuted under South Carolina law. Given these wide-ranging statutes and penalties, working with an experienced auto theft defense lawyer is essential to protect your rights and challenge the prosecution’s case effectively.