To keep the legal system moving efficiently and to ensure people do not face the threat of legal action indefinitely, the Connecticut penal code sets statutes of limitations, limiting the time prosecutors have to file criminal charges against someone. If the statute of limitations for an alleged criminal offense expires, you cannot be lawfully charged with or convicted of that offense.
However, these deadlines generally give law enforcement authorities ample time to investigate and potentially file charges, so it is very rare for them to play a role in a typical theft case. If you are wondering, “How long after theft can you be charged in Connecticut?” a seasoned defense attorney from Mark Sherman Law can explain.
The time limit for how long after initially committing a theft offense you can be criminally charged in Connecticut depends on whether you allegedly committed a misdemeanor or felony offense. If you allegedly committed misdemeanor Theft, or Petit Larceny, Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §54-193 gives the court system just one year to bring criminal charges against you for that specific offense.
This same section of state law sets an effective deadline of 5 years for prosecutors to bring charges against someone who allegedly committed felony Theft (Grand Larceny). So, if you allegedly took property with a total value in excess of $1,000, took certain types of property such as trade secrets, stole from certain types of people such as the elderly, or committed theft through some sort of fraud or embezzlement, the state has a significantly greater amount of time to investigate the allegation(s) against you and decide whether to prosecute you.
While the Connecticut penal code designates certain criminal offenses as having no statute of limitations, none of them expressly involve theft. However, certain types of theft and fraud have unique statutes of limitations, such as funeral service contract fraud and failure to pay taxes. A member of our team could discuss what deadlines may or may not apply to your specific case during a confidential consultation.
No matter when your alleged offense occurred or how long it has taken law enforcement to file charges against you, time is of the essence for building a strong defense against a theft case. If you are wondering, “How long after theft can you be charged in Connecticut?” call today to speak with a member of the Mark Sherman Law team and discuss the best path forward for you. Click here to read what past clients have to say about working with us, and contact Mark Sherman Law today to schedule your confidential consultation.
