Newport Beach Theft Crimes Defense Attorneys

Former Prosecutors. 100+ Years of Combined Experience. Fighting for You.

A theft charge in California carries consequences that reach well beyond the courtroom. Employment, professional licensing, immigration status, and access to credit can all be affected by a conviction. At Corrigan Welbourn Stokke, APLC, we defend individuals facing the full range of theft charges in Newport Beach and throughout Orange County, and we bring a structural advantage that most firms can’t offer: every attorney at our firm began their career as a prosecutor.

T. Edward Welbourn, a former Orange County Deputy District Attorney and Super Lawyers selectee named to The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100, leads our criminal defense work alongside colleagues who share that same prosecution-side background. That experience tells us how the Orange County District Attorney’s Office builds theft cases, what evidence it prioritizes, and which arguments it typically relies on. We use that knowledge to get ahead of the prosecution’s strategy rather than react to it.

Our firm takes a collaborative approach: all of our attorneys work together on case strategy, so every client draws on more than 100 years of combined criminal defense experience rather than a single assigned attorney. We offer free consultations and are available 24/7, including when arrests happen overnight or on weekends.

Contact our Newport Beach theft crimes defense attorneys today for a free consultation at (949) 251-0330.

What a Theft Conviction Can Cost You in California

Under California law, theft offenses are classified as crimes of moral turpitude, a designation that signals dishonesty or a disregard for others’ rights. That classification has real consequences. State licensing boards routinely cite theft convictions as a primary basis for denying or revoking professional certifications, including nursing licenses, real estate licenses, and contracting permits. A conviction can surface on background checks and cause an employer to pass over an otherwise qualified applicant.

For non-citizens, the stakes are higher. Theft convictions classified as crimes of moral turpitude can affect visa applications, green card petitions, and naturalization proceedings. Although California law allows for expungement in some cases, the underlying record can still appear on certain background checks even after expungement is granted.

Newport Beach theft charges are prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and heard at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, which serves Newport Beach and surrounding South Orange County communities, including Irvine, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, and San Clemente. Knowing that court, those prosecutors, and how cases move through that system shapes how we approach your defense from day one.

The line between a misdemeanor and a felony theft charge often turns on the value of the property involved. California Penal Code 484 and 487 draw the dividing line at $950: property valued at or below that threshold is petty theft, typically a misdemeanor; property valued above it is grand theft, a wobbler offense that can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Acting quickly can give us the opportunity to intervene before a charge hardens into a filing.

How We Build a Defense Against Theft Charges

Theft is a specific-intent crime in California. The prosecution must prove that the defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property, or to deprive the owner of it long enough to deny them a significant portion of its value or enjoyment. That element alone opens several avenues for challenge, and our team begins identifying them from the moment a client contacts us.

Because our attorneys have prosecuted theft cases, we understand from the inside how evidence is organized, what the DA’s office considers a strong case, and where typical cases have weak points. Our collaborative structure means defense strategy is evaluated by the full team before anything is committed to paper.

Common defense approaches in California theft cases include:

• Challenging intent: If the prosecution can’t establish that the defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property, or to do so long enough to deny them a significant portion of its value or enjoyment, the charge may not stand.
• Disputing property valuation: If the alleged value of the property falls below the $950 threshold, a potential felony charge may be reducible to a misdemeanor.
• Attacking the sufficiency of evidence: Many theft cases rely on circumstantial evidence, surveillance footage taken out of context, or inconsistent witness accounts. We assess and challenge that evidence directly.
• Mistaken identity: Misidentification is a genuine issue in retail environments, crowded locations, and cases involving limited witness contact.
• Unlawful search or seizure: Evidence obtained through a constitutionally defective search may be subject to suppression.
• Recognized defenses: Consent, claim of right, and good-faith belief in ownership are established defenses to California theft charges that we evaluate in each case.
• Pre-filing intervention: When a client comes to us before charges are formally filed, we may be able to contact the DA’s office directly to present mitigating information and, in some cases, work toward charges being rejected or reduced before they enter the court system.