New York Grand Larceny Sentencing Guidelines Lawyer

Hey there! My name is John and I’m a criminal defense attorney practicing in New York. If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for some info on New York’s grand larceny laws and potential sentences. I totally get it – a grand larceny charge can be scary. But don’t worry, I’m here to walk you through it and answer all your questions.

First off, what exactly is grand larceny? Basically, it’s stealing property worth over $1,000. There’s a few different levels of grand larceny charges in New York:

Grand larceny in the fourth degree – property worth more than $1,000 but less than $3,000
Grand larceny in the third degree – property worth more than $3,000 but less than $50,000
Grand larceny in the second degree – property worth more than $50,000 but less than $1 million
Grand larceny in the first degree – property worth over $1 million

As you can see, the more valuable the property, the higher the degree of grand larceny. And of course, the higher the charge, the harsher the potential sentence if convicted. Let’s break down the sentencing guidelines:

Grand Larceny Fourth Degree

This is the lowest level grand larceny charge in NY. For first time offenders, there is no mandatory minimum prison sentence. The judge has discretion to give probation or conditional discharge instead of jail time. The maximum sentence is up to 4 years in prison.

If you have prior felonies (known as being a “predicate felon”), the minimum sentence jumps up to 1.5 – 3 years in prison. The maximum is still 4 years.

Grand Larceny Third Degree

For first timers, again there is no mandatory minimum. Maximum is up to 7 years in prison. Predicate felons face 1.5 – 4 years minimum and up to 7 years maximum.

Grand Larceny Second Degree

Now we’re talking some real time. First offense carries 3.5 – 8.5 years in prison. For predicate felons it’s 5 – 15 years.

Grand Larceny First Degree

This is the big one, with theft over $1 million. Even first timers are looking at a minimum of 5 – 15 years in prison. Predicate felons get 10 – 25 years. Yikes!

I know those potential sentences seem scary, but here’s the good news – there are a lot of defenses we can use to fight the charges and avoid those harsh penalties. For example:

You didn’t actually steal anything – it was a misunderstanding or someone else committed the crime
The property wasn’t actually worth over $1,000
You had permission or the right to take the property
The property was recovered and returned

An experienced NY grand larceny lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case to determine if any of these defenses apply. We can also negotiate with the prosecutor to get the charges reduced or even dismissed completely in some cases.

Let’s be real – getting charged with a felony grand larceny is serious business. These cases can totally ruin your life and future if not handled properly. My advice? Don’t go it alone. Hire an attorney who specializes in NY theft crimes. Having an expert larceny lawyer on your side can make all the difference in getting charges dropped or reduced and avoiding jail time.

If you or a loved one is facing grand larceny charges in New York, give me a call today. I offer free consultations, so you can tell me all about your case at no cost. Together we’ll start building the strongest defense to beat these charges and protect your freedom.

Stay positive – we’re going to get through this!

-John