Camden County NJ Theft by Deception Lawyer

Criminal Defense Attorney with Offices in Collingswood, New Jersey

Theft by deception is one of the most common theft crimes in New Jersey and being convicted of it can leave a person exposed to several serious penalties including jail time and payment of restitution to the alleged victim. Because of the significant impact a conviction for theft by deception can have on your life, you will need a knowledgeable and experienced attorney to defend you against the charges.

The criminal defense team at the the Law Offices of Leonard Biddison defend clients charged with theft related offenses such as check fraud, credit card theft, and shoplifting in Camden County including Winslow Township, Bellmawr, Voorhees, and Barrington. With almost 40 years of combined experience, our defense attorneys know what it takes to help get you the most desirable result in your theft by deception case. In fact, one of our attorneys has handled countless theft related cases and has been featured in the Daily Record from Morris County as a result of his success in several of these cases. This sort of expertise can be extremely valuable in your case. The Law Offices of Leonard Biddison are available anytime for a free initial consultation to speak with you about your case. Call us today at 877-450-8301.

Theft by Deception in New Jersey 

New Jersey’s theft by deception law is explained under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4 which states that a person commits the offense when he purposely obtains property of another by deception. Deception is defined in the statute as follows:

• If he or she creates or reinforces a false impression, including false impressions as to law, value, intention or other state of mind, and including, but not limited to, a false impression that the person is soliciting or collecting funds for a charitable purpose; but deception as to a person’s intention to perform a promise shall not be inferred from the fact alone that he did not subsequently perform the promise;
• Prevents another from acquiring information which would affect his judgment of a transaction; or
• Fails to correct a false impression which the deceiver previously created or reinforced, or which the deceiver knows to be influencing another to whom he stands in a fiduciary or confidential relationship.

Note: “Deceive” under the statute does not include exaggerations that would probably not deceive an ordinary person in the same situation or falsities that do not have any monetary significance. 

Degrees of Theft by Deception in New Jersey 

Second Degree – Prison term of 5 to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison

• The amount involved is at least $75,000
• The property is taken by extortion
• The property stolen is a controlled dangerous substance (“CDS”) and the quantity is in excess of one kilogram.

Third Degree – NJ State Prison term of 3 to 5 years

• The amount involved is between $500 and $75,000
• The property stolen is a firearm, motor vehicle, vessel, boat, horse, domestic companion animal or airplane;
• The property stolen is a CDS and the amount involved is less than $75,000 or is undetermined and the quantity is one kilogram or less;
• It is from the person of the victim
• The property stolen is a New Jersey Prescription Blank.

Fourth Degree – NJ State Prison term of up to 18 months

• The amount is between $200 and $500

If none of these apply, theft by deception qualifies as a disorderly persons offense which subjects a person to up to 6 months in county jail.

Contact a Winslow Twp. NJ Theft by Deception Lawyer to Discuss Your Case

The criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Leonard Biddison are always available to speak with you about your case and begin to formulate an aggressive strategy to defend you against your theft by deception charge. Our criminal defense team understands the details of theft law in New Jersey and we will use this knowledge to help you best defend against these charges. Call us today at 877-450-8301 for a free initial consultation about your case.