Retail Theft Shoplifting Defense Wilton, CT

Wilton, Connecticut Criminal Defense Attorneys Focus on Larceny Charges

Connecticut Criminal Defense Law Firm Concentrates on Defending Clients

In Connecticut, retail theft and/or shoplifting are forms of larceny, the unlawful taking and carrying away of someone else's property without the consent of the owner, and with the intent to deprive the owner of the property on a permanent basis.

But defendants charged with larceny can have some powerful defenses at their disposal to counter the charges, including:

• Belief of ownership or right – if a defendant has a good faith belief that they own a piece of property or have the right to use it, they did not commit larceny by taking their own property, even if their belief is false or unreasonable.
• Entrapment – When someone induces an innocent party to commit a crime that they normally wouldn't have committed, entrapment has occurred. For this defense to be successful, the defendant claiming entrapment must not have had any prior inclination to commit the crime, and must do so only on the enticement of the entrapping party.
• Consent – Taking property without the owner's consent is one of the essential elements of larceny; if the owner of the property consents to the taking, the conduct does not amount to larceny.
• Duress – If a defendant can offer proof that someone else forced them to commit larceny through threats of force, blackmail, etc., a jury might find that they did not act voluntarily and release them from responsibility for the crime.

If you have been arrested for larceny in Wilton, Connecticut, allow the skilled defense attorneys at at the Law Offices of Mark M. Kratter, LLC to explore defense strategies that apply to your case. Contact us online or call 203-678-8135 to set up a free, no-obligation initial consultation with one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys today.