Theft, Robbery, and Burglary Lawyer in Towson, MD

What You Get When You Hire The Hollimon Firm for Your Property Crime Case?

You get a criminal theft lawyer who handles your case personally and knows how prosecutors in Towson build property crime charges. Most firms pass these cases to junior staff who push for a quick plea. I take the opposite approach and give your defense direct attention at every stage.

• Intent Evidence Review: I examine what the state claims you meant to do, because most theft and burglary charges collapse without proof of criminal intent.
• Surveillance and Witness Scrutiny: I review store footage, police reports, and witness accounts to expose gaps in the prosecution's version of events.
• Direct Principal Representation: You work with me from your first consultation through the final resolution, never an associate who inherits your file.
• Charge Reduction Strategy: I push to lower a felony property charge to a misdemeanor or to keep a first offense off your permanent record.

Property Crimes I Defend in Towson, MD

The District of Columbia treats theft, robbery, and burglary as three separate offenses with different elements and very different penalties. Theft turns on intent, robbery turns on force, and burglary turns on unlawful entry. The charge you face controls how much prison time is on the table and which defense actually works. I read the statute the prosecution used and test whether your conduct fits it.

Theft and Larceny Charges

Theft under D.C. Code § 22-3211 covers taking property by larceny, trick, embezzlement, or false pretenses. Second degree theft involves property worth less than $1,000 and carries up to 180 days in jail. First degree theft applies at $1,000 or more and carries up to 10 years in prison with a $25,000 fine, while murder/homicide cases carry even more severe stakes. As your theft lawyer, I attack the element prosecutors find hardest to prove, which is your intent to permanently deprive the owner.

Petty Theft and Shoplifting

Petty theft and shoplifting fall under second degree theft when the merchandise value stays below $1,000. A first offense often qualifies for diversion that ends in dismissal once you finish the conditions. Store loss prevention reports frequently overstate value or misread intent. As a petty theft lawyer, I challenge inflated price claims and push to keep a minor mistake off your permanent record.

Grand Theft and Grand Larceny

Grand theft and grand larceny describe first degree theft of property valued at $1,000 or more. Two prior theft convictions trigger a mandatory minimum of one year in prison with no early release. The state proves value through receipts, appraisals, and witness estimates that often do not hold up. As a grand larceny lawyer, I dispute the valuation that pushes a misdemeanor into felony range.

Robbery and Armed Robbery

Robbery under D.C. Code § 22-2801 means taking property by force, violence, or fear, and it carries 2 to 15 years in prison. Attempted robbery through an overt act adds up to 3 years on its own. An armed robbery charge stacks a weapons enhancement on top, which raises your exposure sharply. As a robbery lawyer, I separate a genuine threat of force from a theft the state simply relabeled to win a longer sentence.

Aggravated and Strong Arm Robbery

Aggravated robbery and strong arm robbery involve physical force against the victim without a weapon present. Prosecutors lean on victim identification that eyewitness research shows is often unreliable under stress. A single shaky identification can carry a 15 year sentence if it goes unchallenged. As an aggravated robbery lawyer, I test the lineup procedure and the lighting, distance, and timing behind every identification.

Burglary Charges

Burglary under D.C. Code § 22-801 means entering a building with intent to commit a crime inside. Second degree burglary carries 2 to 15 years, while first degree applies when someone occupies the dwelling and carries 5 to 30 years. The state must prove your intent at the moment of entry, not after. As a burglary lawyer, I challenge that intent element when the evidence shows mere presence rather than a plan to steal.

Auto Theft and Stolen Vehicle Charges

Auto theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle cover taking or driving a car without the owner's consent. Carjacking under D.C. Code § 22-2803 is far more serious and carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years when a weapon is involved. The gap between joyriding and carjacking often decides whether you face probation or decades. As a stolen vehicle lawyer, I fight to keep a borrowed car dispute from turning into a violent felony charge.

Identity Theft Charges

Identity theft under D.C. Code § 22-3227 means using someone's personal identifying information to obtain property or services. The penalty tracks the value taken, so first degree identity theft of $1,000 or more carries up to 10 years in prison. Multiple counts stack quickly and inflate your exposure beyond the actual loss. As an identity theft lawyer, I challenge whether the state can tie you to the unauthorized use it alleges.

Receiving Stolen Property

Receiving stolen property under D.C. Code § 22-3232 applies when you hold goods knowing they were stolen. The charge requires proof that you knew or had reason to know the property's origin. Buying a discounted item secondhand is not a crime unless that knowledge exists. As a stolen property lawyer, I attack the knowledge element when the state has nothing but possession to point to.

How I Defend Theft, Robbery, and Burglary Charges?

Every property crime charge rests on elements the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. I build your defense by finding the element the state cannot support and attacking it directly. As a theft defense attorney, I treat each case as a separate puzzle rather than running the same script for everyone.

Challenging Criminal Intent

Intent separates a crime from a misunderstanding in nearly every theft case. Borrowing a tool you meant to return is not theft, and entering a building for a lawful reason is not burglary. The state often assumes intent from circumstances alone. As a criminal theft lawyer, I present the facts that show you never planned to permanently deprive anyone of property.

Attacking Mistaken Identity

Eyewitness identification fails more often than juries expect, especially under stress or poor lighting. A blurry surveillance still or a suggestive police lineup can put the wrong person in the courtroom. Research on memory backs up how unreliable these identifications are. As a lawyer for theft cases, I question the lineup procedure and bring out every factor that makes the identification doubtful.

Proving Consent or Right of Possession

A taking is not a crime when you had permission or a genuine claim to the property. Roommate disputes, family disagreements, and shared property arrangements get charged as theft all the time. Text messages and prior agreements often show the consent the state ignored. As a lawyer for stealing accusations, I gather that proof to defeat the core element of the charge.

Suppressing Illegally Obtained Evidence

Police must follow the Fourth Amendment when they search you, your car, or your home. Evidence seized without a valid warrant or probable cause can be thrown out before trial. A successful suppression motion often guts the prosecution's entire case. As a property theft lawyer, I review every search behind your arrest and move to exclude anything police took unlawfully.

Raising the Entrapment Defense

Entrapment applies when law enforcement pushes you into a crime you would not have committed on your own. Undercover operations sometimes cross the line from investigation into inducement. The distinction decides whether the charge survives. As a lawyer for stolen property cases, I examine the officer's conduct to determine whether the government manufactured the offense it now prosecutes.