Top Charlottesville VA Petit Larceny Defense Lawyer • 1500+ Reviews
If you take something from someone else in Charlottesville and have no intention of returning it, then you can be in trouble. Petit larceny is the illegal taking of personal property from another. Petit larceny is also referred to as petty larceny. The word “petit” is French for small. Petit larceny is criminalized as a larceny not from the person of another valued at less than $1,000 or as a larceny from a person at a value of less than $5. Petit larceny is a misdemeanor criminal offense except in cases involving a firearm or a third offense. Charlottesville aggressively prosecutes these cases. Contact a top rated Charlottesville VA petit larceny lawyer for help!
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For broader statewide guidance, see our Virginia Petit Larceny Lawyer page.
Experienced Charlottesville VA Petit Larceny Attorneys Fighting For You
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is an established local Charlottesville VA criminal defense firm that specializes in defending petit larceny criminal cases. Our Charlottesville VA petit larceny lawyers represent clients who have been charged with this type of offense. We zealously defend each client with the goal to achieve the best possible outcome. We are recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report. We have extensive experience with defending petit larceny allegations before the Charlottesville Courts. We have over 60 years of combined criminal law experience. Our firm has been positively reviewed more than any other law firm that defends criminal cases in Charlottesville.
Most Rated Charlottesville Petit Larceny Defense Attorneys
Local Charlottesville VA Petit Larceny Defense Lawyers Make The Difference
Our Charlottesville VA petit lawyers represent clients accused of theft offenses before the Charlottesville Courts EVERY week. We believe clients benefit from this experience. Experienced criminal law trial lawyers who are regularly in the same courtrooms before the same Judges develop unique skills that can be used to protect future clients. CAUTION: Not all lawyers are the same. Retain a Charlottesville professional who specializes in petty larceny defense and has the necessary experience to properly defend your case. There is a lot riding on your case. Some lawyers simply do not possess the skills to defend your case properly. NOTE: A petit larceny criminal accusation is not the same as a conviction.
Free Consultation Charlottesville Petit Larceny Defense Lawyers
Petit Larceny is a criminal offense. You need a top rated Charlottesville petit larceny defense attorney. Be careful because there may be serious consequences. The biggest issues for most are the lack of experience and legal knowledge. The average person does not understand the best course of action to defend a Charlottesville petty larceny case. Our experienced law firm knows the best tactics for obtaining the best results. We spend hours in the Charlottesville Courts every week and are familiar with the habits of the different judges and the law enforcement officers who make the arrests. This specialized knowledge is invaluable in order to best defend your case.
Shoplifting in Charlottesville is a Form of Larceny
Shoplifting is punished like larceny. It is the theft of goods from a Charlottesville retail establishment during business hours. A typical scenario involves concealing a Charlottesville store item on one’s person in pockets, under clothes or in a bag and leaving without paying. A key element of the offense is that the taking is done knowingly. This Charlottesville offense is punishable as petit larceny if the value of the merchandise is less than $1,000. The offense occurs as soon as the item is concealed in the Charlottesville store. Shoplifting does not require leaving the store or going past the line of cash registers. Return fraud and swapping price labels from items are other forms of shoplifting.
Charlottesville VA Petit Larceny Defense Attorneys Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from over 70 practice areas including petit larceny defense who have attained a high-degree of recognition and achievement. Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers nationwide using a patented process of independent research and peer input. Our Charlottesville VA petit larceny defense lawyers have been recognized as Virginia Super Lawyers since 2009 for criminal defense. No more than five percent of the lawyers in a state are named to Super Lawyers and no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a Charlottesville VA petty larceny defense attorney who has been recognized as a Virginia Super Lawyer.
Petit Larceny Defenses Even if You Think You Are Guilty
Petit larceny in Charlottesville requires the taking of personal property without consent and that the taking be done with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the personal property. Lack of criminal intent can sometimes be insufficient. Consent, duress and ownership issues can create defenses. On the other hand, skilled Charlottesville VA petit larceny attorneys can develop procedural defenses, challenge the evidence, present mitigation evidence and secure attractive plea options to successfully resolve Charlottesville petit larceny cases even if you think you are guilty of the accusation. It is important to note that Va. Code 18.2-105.1 allows a Charlottesville shop owner or its loss prevention officer to temporarily detain in individual if they have probable cause.
Specific Charlottesville Petit Larceny Defenses
Mistaken Identity:
This can be a strong defense if the Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was the one who took the item in question.
Claim of Ownership:
If your Charlottesville petit larceny defense attorney can prove that the goods in question actually belonged to the accused, then this can undermine the Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney’s case.
Proof of Payment:
A compelling defense can be proof of payment. If the defense can show that the accused paid for the property, then the Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney will have a hard time proving petit larceny beyond a reasonable doubt.
Unintentional Placement:
If someone else placed the merchandise in the defendant’s bag without their knowledge, this can be a strong defense.
Intent to Pay:
If the defendant can show they genuinely intended to pay for the merchandise, this can mitigate their culpability.
Lack of Intent to Permanently Deprive:
Petit larceny requires the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. If your Charlottesville petit larceny defense lawyer can show that the accused did not intend to steal the item, but rather had an intention to return it or made a mistake (like taking the wrong bag), then this can be a defense.
Illegal Search and Seizure:
The Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney’s petit larceny case will be weakened if the Charlottesville police obtained evidence through an illegal search because that evidence would not be inadmissible at court during trial.
First Offender Programs:
Sometimes a top rated Charlottesville petit larceny lawyer is able to convince the Court and the Commonwealth Attorney to defer and dismiss the case through a first offender program. This type of disposition may allow the accused to keep a clean record by performing paying restitution, keeping the peace and being on good behavior during a probationary period, completing community service and classes even if the evidence would be sufficient to convict.
Charlottesville Petit Larceny Lawyer Defenses to Theft Cases
Every person accused of petit
larceny in Charlottesville VA has a constitutional right to retain a Charlottesville VA petit larceny lawyer of his or her choice and to present a defense. This includes the right to a fair trial, the right to cross-examine the Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney’s witness’ and the due process right to present a complete defense. The defense has a right to call witnesses whose testimony is material and favorable to his defense. Presenting a strong defense to a Charlottesville petit larceny involves gathering and presenting evidence, challenging the prosecution’s case, demonstrating reasonable doubt, arguing that the crime was committed by someone else, or that no crime was committed at all.
Superb Avvo Rated Charlottesville VA Petit Larceny Attorneys
The Avvo Lawyer Rating can help you find the right Charlottesville VA petit larceny defense attorney for your case. Avvo was derived from “avvocato”, the Italian word for lawyer. Avvo is a legal directory that rates legal professionals using a mathematical model on a scale of 1 (Extreme Caution) to 10 (Superb). Members of our Charlottesville law firm maintain a 10.0 Superb Avvo rating. Avvo collects relevant information from state bar associations, other organizations that license lawyers, legal professionals and thousands of consumers to calculate its rating. The same set of standards are used for every lawyer that is evaluated. The Avvo rating is merit based. You cannot pay a fee to improve your Avvo rating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charlottesville Petit Larceny Charges
Is petit larceny in Charlottesville a misdemeanor?
Yes. In Virginia, petit larceny is generally charged as a misdemeanor, but that does not mean it should be taken lightly. A conviction can still carry jail exposure, fines, and a permanent criminal record that may affect employment and other opportunities.
Can a Charlottesville petit larceny charge lead to jail?
Yes. Depending on the facts, a petit larceny conviction can carry jail exposure, suspended time, probation, fines, or other conditions imposed by the court. The likely outcome depends on the allegation, prior record, and how the case is handled.
What if I am accused of shoplifting in Charlottesville?
Many shoplifting allegations are charged under Virginia larceny laws. Even when the accusation involves merchandise from a store, the charge can still carry serious consequences and should be reviewed carefully based on the facts, evidence, and value alleged.
Can a petit larceny charge in Charlottesville be dismissed or reduced?
That depends on the facts of the case, the available evidence, the value alleged, and the defendant’s prior record. Some cases may involve proof issues, witness credibility questions, identification problems, or mitigation that affects how the case is resolved.
What should I do after receiving a petit larceny charge in Charlottesville?
Read the charging document carefully, confirm the court date, and avoid making assumptions about the strength of the case. It is important to understand the exact allegation, the possible consequences, and what steps may be worth taking before court.
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7/2/2025 | Updated 3/27/2026