Madison Property Crime Defense Lawyer
Defense of Wisconsin theft, burglary, shoplifting, receiving-stolen-property and criminal-damage allegations, with representation from a Madison criminal defense attorney practicing since 1993.
Defense information by charge
Choose a specific topic for more focused information.
Theft
Wisconsin theft allegations and disputed ownership or intent.
Burglary
Burglary allegations involving entry, intent and identification.
Shoplifting
Retail-theft and shoplifting allegations.
Receiving Stolen Property
Allegations involving possession of property claimed to be stolen.
Criminal Damage
Property-damage allegations and related disputes.
What a property-crime case can turn on
Property cases are not all alike. The disputed issue may be intent, identification, ownership, possession, value, consent or the reliability of the evidence used to connect a person to the property.
Intent and ownership
The surrounding circumstances can matter when property is jointly owned, borrowed, transferred, returned or claimed by more than one person. A defense review should distinguish the prosecution’s characterization from the actual history of possession, ownership, permission and intent.
Identification and surveillance evidence
Retail video, doorbell cameras, photographs, license-plate information, phone data and witness identification can all appear in property-crime investigations. The important question is not simply whether evidence exists, but whether it reliably identifies the accused and supports the charged conduct.
Possession and knowledge
Receiving-stolen-property and similar allegations can involve disputes about who possessed an item and what the person knew about its origin. Location, access, purchase history, messages, receipts and the presence of other people can be important context.
Value, damage and restitution issues
The claimed value of property or the amount of alleged damage can affect how a case is evaluated. Receipts, appraisals, repair estimates and photographs may be relevant when the amount claimed by a witness or insurer is disputed.
Evidence should be compared with the police narrative
A complaint or report is a starting point, not the full evidentiary record. Depending on the case, useful material may include surveillance video, text messages, receipts, photographs, location data, witness statements and records showing lawful possession or ownership.
This page provides general information and is not legal advice. The law, available defenses and potential consequences depend on the facts and current law.