How To Beat a P.L. 155.25 Petit Larceny Charge

An experienced criminal lawyer can help you beat a P.L. 155.25 petit larceny charge.

P.L. 155.25 is a common offense in New York, and in many circumstances, you can get your charges reduced.

This guide discusses the P.L. 155.25 charge and outlines what you can expect if you are facing charges. If you are charged with P.L. 155.25 in New York City, contact Cody Warner, P.C. for a free consultation.

What is P.L. 155.25 Petit Larceny Charge?

P.L. 155.25 occurs when a person steals property.

Under New York law, a person steals property and commits larceny when, with intent to
deprive another of property or to appropriate the same to himself or to a third person, he wrongfully takes, obtains or withholds such property from an owner thereof.

Available Defenses to P.L. 155.25 Petit Larceny

Although P.L. 155.25 seems like an easily understood crime, sometimes the conduct charged isn’t actually a crime. In those scenarios, you could have a strong defense. Some examples include:

No Intent to Permanently Deprive

To be guilty of P.L. 155.25, a person must intend to permanently deprive the owner of the property or possession of the property so long that the property’s value will be lost. In certain situations, a defendant may take a person’s property without the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

For instance, let’s say a family member takes a sibling’s car to run errands. They do so without permission from the sibling. In that case, they took the property without permission, but they didn’t intend to permanently deprive the sibling of the property—they just intended to briefly borrow the car. In that case, the person would have a great P.L. 155.25 defense.

The Complainant Wasn’t the Owner

The alleged victim must have a property interest superior to the defendant. In some situations, people dispute ownership of property, and one person calls the police to get the other arrested. When the person arrested has a legitimate claim to the property, then they have not permanently deprived the owner of the property.

No Possession

Sometimes, a person charged with P.L. 155.25 didn’t actually possess the stolen property. For instance, let’s say the police pull over a car that has several passengers. Inside the trunk of the car, the police find stolen property. If they arrest all the passengers for possessing the stolen property, the passengers have strong arguments that they did not possess the stolen property. Unless the police can prove the passengers knew the stolen property was in the car, the passengers may have a strong claim that they were falsely arrested.

Typical P.L. 155.25 Petit Larceny Case Outcomes

If you have a strong defense, then you are and criminal lawyer should fight the charges until your case is dismissed.

However, even if you are guilty, your lawyer may be able to get you a great outcome. You may be able to walk away from your case without jail time and without a criminal records.

In many cases, your lawyer may be able to get your charges reduced if you agree to return the stolen property or compensate the victim for the lost goods. You outcome will be dependent on the value of the stolen property and whether you have a criminal record.

Need Help?

If you are facing P.L. 155.25 petit larceny charges in NYC, contact Cody Warner, P.C. for a free consultation. We will evaluate your case to determine the best strategy for moving forward.