What are the factors or elements of 530.5 PC Identity Theft?
Identity theft is the taking of another person’s personal identifying information for use in an unlawful or fraudulent manner.
The law is also couched in the phrase “unauthorized use of personal identifying information to obtain credit, goods, services, or medical information in the name of another person.”
Legal Consequences:
Identity theft in California is a wobbler, which means that the offense may be punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
If punished as a felony, you may face:
- Up to three years in county jail, and/or
- A maximum $10,000 fine.
If punished as a misdemeanor, you face:
- Up to one year in a county jail, and
- A maximum $1,000 fine.
- And if you are prosecuted under the federal identity theft law, you face increased fines and up to 30 years in federal prison.
How can we defend you against charges of California Penal Code 530.5 PC Identity Theft?
Some common legal defenses to identity theft include (but are not limited to):
- You didn’t use the information in connection with an unlawful purpose,
- You didn’t have criminal intent, and/or
- You were the victim of mistaken identity or false accusations.
Contact us:
Please call our office today at (707) 571-8600 in our centrally located Santa Rosa office in Sonoma County to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.
Don’t bargain with your freedom! The right attorney makes all the difference between your freedom and incarceration!
Please CLICK HERE to visit our dedicated page on theft charges for more info.