A former funeral director has been charged with Felony Theft in Greeley, Colorado. Prosecutors say that the man stole thousands of dollars from customers who had prepaid for funeral services. He closed his business earlier this year, and moved out of state. Customers had been making payments for future funeral arrangements, so their children wouldn’t be burdened financially. The former funeral director went on trial for eight counts of felony theft, but the Weld County jury couldn’t determine whether he purposefully stole from his clients, or whether he simply bungled his finances badly.
What is the Sentence for Felony and Misdemeanor Theft in Greeley?
Theft charges are based on the amount or value of the items stolen. It is important to know that District Attorneys in Morgan, Larimer and Logan County often add up all the values of each charge against you so that they can charge you with a harsher sentence. For example, if you are charged with stealing $500 from three different people (a misdemeanor sentence for each count), the district attorney can add those three counts together, which means you are now facing a felony conviction. If you are convicted of misdemeanor theft, you could spend up to 18 months in the Weld County Jail. If convicted of felony theft in Greeley, you could face up to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Theft is not Always Purposefully Malicious
The former funeral director has repaid all of his clients. His defense attorney says that he always meant to do so. Mistakes happen every day, and mistakes involving finances are the easiest to make. This funeral director’s business was failing – errors happen when we are most stressed. If you, like this funeral director, are struggling financially, and are worried that you may be charged with theft for overlooking a few numbers, contact our office immediately. You need an advocate to fight on your behalf.
If you or a loved one is facing charges of theft in Greeley, Windsor or Fort Morgan, contact an experienced theft attorney at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009, or submit the “Get Help Now” form. Together, we can protect your future.
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