Criminal Defense Q&A: What Will Happen to Me If I’m Found Guilty of Embezzling More than $10,000 from My Former Employer?
Question:
Will I go to jail for embezzlement by employer for more then $10,000? I was fired by my employer last August, and I just got a letter in the mail for a hearing next month. Will I go to jail ?
Answer:
Because of the amount allegedly stolen, your embezzlement charge can be punished as a felony or as a misdemeanor. If punished as felony, you could be placed in jail for up to 3 years. If punished as a misdemeanor, you could be sentenced to up to 1 year in jail. Penal Code 503, 514, 489(c).
A criminal defense attorney can help you assess the strength of your defense or, if a conviction is unavoidable, discuss mitigative alternatives (such as pleading to the misdemeanor version of the offense or another alternative theft charge in exchange for returning most or all of the funds).
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Attorney Michael J. Ocampo is a former deputy district attorney. He focuses his practice exclusively on criminal law so that he can help those accused of a crime — often ordinary, everyday people — ensure that their rights are honored and that they receive a fair opportunity to be heard.
