A mailman in Taunton, Massachusetts was recently charged with larceny after he was discovered stealing money from a woman’s purse. The arrest occurred when officers responded to Cumberland Farms on Main Street. The victim of the offense told law enforcement that the offense occurred after she placed her purse on a counter and walked away from it briefly inside a store. When the woman returned to her purse, she discovered that more than $60 had been stolen from it. A review of security footage showed that a person in a U.S. Postal uniform had reached into the woman’s purse and taken the money.
Fortunately, law enforcement was able to recover the stolen money, and the man who committed the offense was later released on bail. He has been charged with larceny, and the exact outcome of the case remains uncertain.
If you are charged with larceny in Massachusetts, you might feel like there is little you can do to fight the charges. The penalties associated with these offenses can have a substantial impact on your future by creating obstacles that make it difficult to pursue career and educational goals even if after you have served your time. In reality, even in situations in which there might be a substantial amount of evidence against you, it is still possible to create a strong defense to respond to these charges. This article will review some of the most common and strongest legal strategies that can be raised. It is also important to remember that in these situations, it is frequently a wise idea to obtain the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Proving that You Owned the Property
In some cases, people are charged with larceny after attempting to retrieve property that they believe they rightfully own. If you are able to present strong evidence to support this belief, you might just be able to create a strong defense. In situations where a person lacks evidence, however, this is often unlikely to be a successful defense.
You Intended to Return the Property
Sometimes, people do not intend to take or steal the property that they are claimed to have taken unlawfully. In these situations, you must establish that you only intended to borrow the property that was taken. While intent to borrow is almost always not enough to dismiss larceny charges, it can result in the ultimate penalties that you end up facing being severely lessened.
Intoxication
If the taking of the property involved alcohol, you might be able to claim that you were too intoxicated to recognize that the item you were taking did not lawfully belong to you. In some cases, raising an intoxication defense can result in the claims pending against you being entirely dismissed.
Contact a Seasoned Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are convicted of larceny, it is frequently in your best interest to obtain the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Contact attorney Edward Molari today to make sure that you have strong legal representation to navigate this difficult time. Speak with our law office today to schedule an initial free consultation.