Larceny – the act of taking another individual’s property without any intention of ever giving it back. This is how Oklahoma, like most of the other states in the country, defines larceny. In addition, the Oklahoma larceny law also defines this as the act of keeping for oneself another person’s lost property despite having the knowledge of who the real owner is or having the means to find out who the property belongs to.

Classification of Theft Offense and Penalties in Oklahoma Criminal Law

In the State of Oklahoma, larceny cases fall in either one of two categories. How they are categorized depends on the stolen property’s value and the circumstances that surround the act. In order for you to understand the world of larceny, it is best that you know the main differences between these two classifications, namely petit larceny and grand larceny.

Petit Larceny

In the State of Oklahoma, a petit larceny case is placed in the bottom most level of theft offenses. Also referred to commonly as petty theft, petit larceny takes place if a person has stolen a property valued at less than $500. The person who has committed the offense and has been found guilty of it can either be faced with a fine that can range from between $10 to $500 and/or a county jail imprisonment of up to 6 months.

Grand Larceny

Grand larceny, as the term already implies, is a type of theft more serious than petit larceny. When a person commits this act, it means that he/she has performed either one of the following:

• Taken the property of another person, with the said property being valued at more than $500.
• Taken a piece of property directly from the person of another, regardless of the value of the said property.

It is also worthy to note that Oklahoma larceny statutes have various specific classifications and penalties for cases of theft that involve certain kinds of property. These often include motor vehicles, livestock and other types of domestic animals, as well as farm equipment.

Grand larceny is considered to be an act of felony in the state of Oklahoma, which is why the punishment is more severe than petit larceny or petty theft. Individuals who have been found guilty of committing grand larceny can be punished through any of the following methods:

• Receive a county jail sentence for up to one year (for individuals who have stolen properties from another person that are valued at $500 or lower.
• Receive a State Penitentiary prison sentence up to five years (for individuals who have stolen properties that are valued at $500 or higher).
• Pay a fine of up to $5,000.
• Reimburse the victim for all the losses that resulted from the act of larceny, also referred to as “order of payment of restitution.”
• If the grand larceny occurred in any residential home or vessel, the punishment is up to eight years
• If the grand larceny was from another person and occurred at night, than the punishment is up to ten years in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary

What You Should Do If You Are Facing a Larceny Case

One very important thing that you need to know about Oklahoma larceny is that it has a very broad definition. This means that you can easily be mistakenly accused of committing it. If such is the case, you should know that hiring an Oklahoma criminal defense attorney from the Hunsucker Legal Group is one of your best options. Through the help, guidance, and counsel of a highly experienced Oklahoma larceny lawyers like those at the Hunsucker Legal Group, your chances of being acquitted for the offense or felony you have been wrongly accused of are higher.