Theft is taking property that belongs to someone else with the intent to appropriate it for yourself or another person, or with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of the property.

Being convicted of a theft crime can affect your life for years. In addition to jail time, fines, and costs, being convicted of theft can hurt your chances of finding or keeping employment and permanently damage your reputation in the community. If you have been charged with a theft crime in Alaska, you need a strong defense that leaves no stone unturned in protecting your rights.

Theft crime attorney Eric Derleth has over 25 years’ experience in defending clients against criminal charges in Alaska, including shoplifting, embezzlement, theft by deception, theft by fraud, and more. His intensive preparation of each case and ability to communicate with juries has led to an impressive track record of success at trial, as well as success in having charges dismissed before a trial becomes necessary.

Understanding Alaska Theft Crimes

Alaska, like many states, classifies theft offenses according to the value of the property taken or, in some cases, the type of property regardless of value. Generally, the penalties for theft increase as the value of the property or services allegedly stolen increases. Likewise, previous criminal convictions can bump a theft charge up to a higher level in Alaska's classification scheme for theft offenses.

There are four degrees of theft in Alaska, and each degree has different consequences, with fourth-degree theft being the least serious and first-degree being the most serious. However, there is no such thing as a “minor” theft charge; any conviction of a theft crime can have long-term and serious consequences..

Fourth-Degree Theft (Petty theft): Theft of services or property valued at less than $250 is theft in the fourth degree, or petty theft. Fourth-degree theft is a class B misdemeanor, which can result in imprisonment of not more than three months, as well as a fine of up to $2,000.

The penalty increases to third-degree theft if the defendant has had three or more theft-related convictions in the past five years.

Third-Degree Theft: Third-degree theft is stealing services or property valued at $250 or more, but less than $750. Theft in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor, which carries a sentence of a year or less imprisonment and a fine up to $25,000.

The penalty increases to second-degree theft (a felony) if the defendant has had two or more theft-related convictions in the past five years.

Second-Degree Theft: Second-degree theft is the theft of services or property valued at $750 or more, but less than $25,000. It is also second-degree theft to steal the following, regardless of their value: firearms and explosives; vessel (watercraft) safety or survival equipment taken from a vessel; aircraft safety or survival equipment taken from an aircraft; and property taken from the person of another.

Second-degree theft is a class C felony. A convicted offender may be imprisoned for up to five years and fined up to $50,000. However, if the defendant has no prior criminal convictions and no other exceptional circumstances exist, they may be sentenced to two years or less.

First-Degree Theft: Theft of services or property valued at more than $25,000 constitutes theft in the first degree. First-degree theft is a class B felony. A person convicted of theft in the first degree can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $100,000. However, with no prior felony convictions, the sentencing range is one to three years.

Work with a Skilled Alaska Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are facing charges of shoplifting, embezzlement, or other theft crimes, contact a skilled criminal defense attorney immediately. Attorney Eric Derleth is known as “the Trial Guy” because of his decades of trial experience and success in Alaska courtrooms.

Based in Soldotna, Eric servest the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, Juneau, Fairbanks, and other areas throughout Alaska. Call Eric at 907-262-9164 or contact our law office today to schedule your free, confidential consultation.