Sometimes we get phone calls at our law office from people who are telling us that they’ve been accused of stealing from their employer or from stealing from some type of agency. A lot of times when people contact us, it’s because they want to give a statement, to either their employer, to human resources, or to a detective or investigator trying to get information on the case.

It’s really important you understand that at this point, you do have a right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. Very often people want to tell their side of the story, but what you want to use as a shield can also end up hurting you like a sword. So it’s really important that if you are being investigated for embezzlement, that you call a criminal defense attorney, so we can go through the facts of your case and determine the best way to approach it.

Another consideration is the value of what was allegedly stolen, whether or not it was $950 or more or less, could determine whether or not the possible charges will be either a felony or a misdemeanor. One of the things to consider is whether or not there are mitigating circumstances in your case. For example, was there a unique or special reason that you supposedly stole from the person or the employer? Did you admit guilt very early on in the process? Was there something going on in your personal life, where you felt like you were forced or almost needed to do this in order to save yourself?

Some of the defenses that could be considered in an embezzlement case are that you had a good faith belief that you had a right to the property or to the money that was stolen. It could also be that you didn’t actually have the criminal intent to take this property or to take the money. Either way, embezzlement is a very serious charge, and the best thing for you to do is remain silent, consult with a Bay Area Criminal Defense Attorney and see what you need to do, to get you the best possible defense. Thanks for listening.