What are the Criminal Penalties for Property Crimes in SC?

Many SC property crimes have penalties that are determined by the value of the property that allegedly to have been stolen, damaged, or destroyed. These offenses include shoplifting, petty larceny, grand larceny, possession of stolen goods, and possession of stolen vehicles. The value of the stolen, damaged, or destroyed property may also determine whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, and whether the charge will be handled in a Magistrate / Municipal Court or in General Sessions.

SC burglary charges carry a variety of penalties that may depend on the evidence and allegations in your case. These penalties change depending on when and where the burglary allegedly occurred and whether other crimes were allegedly committed at the same time. The penalties for Burglary are severe, and can include prison time–even life in prison.

What is a Property Crime Enhancement?

Any SC property crime for which its penalty is determined by the monetary value of the property stolen, damaged, or destroyed can be enhanced to a 10-year felony if the defendant’s record includes 2 or more convictions for property crimes where the penalty was also determined by the value of the property involved.

For example, a person who shoplifts a lighter and is charged with shoplifting can be charged with a felony and incarcerated for up to 10 years if they also have two prior convictions for other property crimes, even if the value of the property in those two prior convictions is miniscule. Note that an economic crime may not involve theft at all. Take the same example, but the person is charged with malicious damage to a fence post or a car mirror that cost the property owner $10 to fix. That person may be charged with Malicious Injury to Property (real property or personal property) and similarly charged with a 10-year felony. 

The term “white collar crimes” incorporates a vast array of charges. Ranging from state charges like breach of trust or financial transaction card fraud, to complex federal charges like money laundering, wire fraud, securities fraud, insurance fraud, insider trading, public corruption or myriad other possible allegations.



The central thrust of all these charges is that the government thinks someone received something they were not entitled to.

Often these cases involve getting into deeply complex business records and transaction logs. Ultimately, the best defense to these charges often involves accounting for every cent alleged to have been taken. This requires not only hard work, but also an attorney who understands the complexity of modern American businesses.

Even being accused of one of these charges can have life changing impacts. Ranging from the obvious shock and embarrassment, to loss of professional licensing, loss of business, significant civil and criminal fines, or even prison time.

These cases are often prosecuted by agencies most citizens are not used to interacting with, agencies like the Attorney General’s Office, the SEC, the FBI, or Homeland Security. At the federal level these cases often begin with what’s called a “target letter”. It cannot be stressed enough, if you have received a target letter, or have been alerted that you, or your business, are the subject of an investigation you need to call an experienced white collar criminal defense attorney IMMEDIATELY.

Property Crime Defense Attorney in Greenville or Upstate SC

If you have been charged with any property crime, call the criminal defense lawyers at Watson Fowler NOW at (864) 467-0380 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.