Boise Criminal Attorney Discusses Larceny

As a Boise Criminal Attorney I often get calls from people who have been charged with larceny. Larceny is the crime of theft.

Last week I got a telephone call from a young man who was charged with larceny. He had switched a price tag and tried to purchase a Walmart boxed stereo for a whoppingly reduced price. Using a "clearance" price tag, the young man took the stereo to the check out where he was apprehended.

He wanted to know if he had any defense to the crime. He said that he had just gone through divorce and a custody battle, he was recently charged with a DUI and he had no money. On top of it all he said he was just joking around. He was offering information for me to find a criminal defense for him. No such luck. According to Idaho Code, if you switch price tags to get a lessor price that is theft.

I have talked to other Boise attorneys and specifically other Boise Criminal Lawyers who have had the exact same type of telephone call. Many lawyers, however, say that these particular calls are becoming less because of the use of computer pricing, but many attorneys say they still hear it enough to know that that particular theft law is not out-dated.

As a Boise Criminal Attorney I can tell you if you intend to get a lessor price for something and you do something to make it appear that the lessor price is the price it is theft and even though it is sad, divorce or a child custody battle, a DUI, lack of money or joking around do not make a criminal defense.