Practice Areas

• Homicide
• Violent Crime/Felony
• White Collar Crime
• Juvenile Defense/Youthful Defenders
• Misdemeanor Offense

Blog

News

Library

Motivations and Punishments for Embezzlement in California

Embezzlement is a serious crime. As a common type of white-collar crime, it is treated seriously by the California penal code, coming with strict punishments. If you or someone you know has been accused of embezzlement in California, it is important that you take swift and dedicated actions to fight the charges.

Embezzlement occurs when a person who is trusted with access to financial funds that do not belong to them takes some of this money for their own purposes. This can be done by stealing money directly out of a cash register, or by slowly funneling funds from a corporate expense account into a personal one.

Embezzlement can take many different forms, and can quickly grow out of control. Many people convicted of embezzlement say they were doing it only for a quick financial fix, and fully intended to give the money back later. Others get sucked in by the apparent ease of embezzlement, and get in over their heads without realizing the implications of their behavior.

Embezzlement, like most other crimes in California, is prosecuted according to the severity of the crime. As it primarily concerns the stealing of funds, embezzlement cases are classified as crimes of theft. The determining factor in the severity of punishment, then, is the amount the theft accounted for.

Any embezzlement under $400 is almost always charged as petty theft in California. This crime carries a possibility of up to 6 months in jail, as well as fines. Embezzlement over $400 is considered grand theft, and carries with it more severe penalties.

Grand theft can be treated as either a misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on the severity of the crime, the source of the funds, and any previous criminal record you may have. Penalties, which can include time in prison, are naturally more severe for crimes considered felonies.

When someone is charged with embezzlement or any other California white-collar crime it can be a scary and confusing experience. Whether you have been falsely accused, caught doing something you didn't know came with harsh consequences, or years of dishonest behavior has finally caught up to you, an arrest and possible penalties can cast a heavy shadow over your life.

It is imperative that you take immediate action after being charged with a California white-collar crime such as embezzlement. Contacting a lawyer who can advise you on how to proceed, fight on your behalf in court, and help you clean up your criminal record is the best first step.

Call the Ventura criminal defense attorneys at Bamieh & Erickson today for a free consultation about your case. We can give you steps to take action on immediately, helping you get ahead of the curve for fighting the charges against you. You can contact our Ventura office 24/7 at (805) 643-5555.

If you are convicted of embezzlement in California, it will change the course of your life for years to come. Do not be the victim of a legal system that is stacked against you. Call an experienced Ventura criminal defense attorney to help protect your right to be treated as innocent until proven guilty.

Free Consultation