San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
A 66-year-old San Diego woman has been arrested and for stealing over $300,000 of jewelry in San Diego County and throughout the country since 2008. The woman, identified as Huong Thi Tran pleaded not guilty while in a Vista courtroom on Monday, February 10. Her charges included two grand theft felonies, one burglary charge, coupled with many other charges.
The Escondido Police Department reported that Tran used a sleight-of-hand technique combined with other deceptive tactics to steal jewelry for more than a decade in Southern California, Texas, and Virginia. Brock Arstill, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney said that Tran most recently burglarized the Royal Maui Jewelry Store located on East Via Rancho Parkway. She went into the store and asked to see some bracelets. She bought two but was able to pocket two that had a value of $7,200. The store clerk was able to see the robbery on video after it was realized that jewelry was missing.
Escondido police described multiple other incidents where Tran robbed jewelry stores in California and Texas. She was arrested by San Diego police in City Heights and has bail set at $75,000. Her preliminary hearing is going to be February 25 at 8:45 a.m.
Grand Theft in San Diego
Grand theft is defined under California’s Penal Code 487. When an individual illegally takes property from another individual and that property has a value of more than $950, grand theft charges may apply. When you have been charged with grand theft it is important that you have experienced and knowledgeable legal representation from a San Diego felony attorney defending your case. Because grand theft is considered a wobbler after the verdict has been made you will be either facing punishment as a felony or a misdemeanor.
Wobbler cases are those where the prosecution determines the classification of the charge as either a felony or a misdemeanor. If you have an inadequate legal defense, you risk being charged with a felony that comes with much stricter penalties.
- Misdemeanor charges come with one year in local county jail and may also have a fine of upwards of $1,000.
- Felony charges will have either one year in local county jail along with felony probation or can come with up to three years in county jail and may also have to pay a fine up to $10,000.
Those that are charged with felony grand theft may also face additional time in jail based on how much the property they stole was worth.
- Stolen property over $65,000 one additional year in jail
- Stolen property over $200,000 two additional years in jail
- Stolen property over $1,300,000 three additional years in jail
- Any property over $3,200,000 four additional years in jail
Defendants that have a criminal record with many offenses are more likely to get the stiffest punishments.
You can be charged with various types of grand felonies. Grand felony by trick occurs when someone uses deceit or fraud to steal another’s property. In this case, the victim is tricked into transferring the possession of the property but not legal ownership.
The experienced legal team at the Law Offices of David M. Boertje has handled hundreds of criminal cases so we know how to provide you with the strongest defense possible for your unique circumstances. Call one of our Carlsbad criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of David M. Boertje to schedule your free consultation at (619) 229-1870 for our San Diego office or (760) 476-0901 for our Carlsbad location.