Grand vs. Petit Larceny in Virginia: How an Attorney Can Make a Difference in Your Case
July 7, 2025
Do you have a theft charge in Arlington, Fairfax, or Prince William County? Call 703-596-9566 or request a confidential consult with Rudolphi Law—a trusted Virginia criminal defense attorney—as soon as possible to learn more about grand vs. petit larceny.
The $1,000 Line That Divides Felony from Misdemeanor
Virginia sorts theft into two buckets almost entirely by dollars. Grand larceny (§ 18.2-95) covers the theft of any firearm, items of value $5 or more taken from someone’s person, or property worth $1,000+. It is a felony carrying one to twenty years in prison (or, at the judge’s discretion, up to twelve months in jail and a $2,500 fine). Petit larceny (§ 18.2-96) applies when the value is under that threshold and is a Class 1 misdemeanor with the same fine cap and a 12-month jail ceiling.
That single figure—raised from $500 to $1,000 in 2020—often decides whether you lose civil rights or keep a clean slate. A swift call to seasoned criminal lawyers who serve Prince William County lets a defense team verify price tags, coupons, and depreciation tables that can shave a borderline case below the felony line, shrinking potential confinement from two decades to twelve months.
Hidden Costs That Trail a Larceny Conviction
Jail time is only the first hit. A felony theft mark blocks firearm ownership, most professional licenses, and many federal or defense-contract jobs. Even a misdemeanor shoplifting judgment resurfaces on landlord and HR screens because the Central Criminal Records Exchange keeps fingerprints for life.
Financial pain piles on: you face restitution, a possible $2,500 fine, and private civil demand letters from chain stores that seek triple damages. Paying without advice may admit liability; ignoring them can spark a lawsuit. Non-citizens risk deportation because theft is a crime of moral turpitude, so retaining the best Virginia criminal defense lawyer who knows these criminal law pitfalls is vital.
Defense Tactics That Flip the Script Regarding Grand vs. Petit Larceny
Even when the Commonwealth seems to have you cornered, a seasoned Virginia criminal defense lawyer still has powerful tools to shift the odds. By chipping away at the dollar value, advising mitigation measures, leveraging first-offender programs, and exposing holes in the evidence chain, counsel can turn a felony threat into a misdemeanor—or make the case disappear altogether. Below are the key strategies that routinely tip larceny prosecutions back in the defendant’s favor.
Valuation battles. Prosecutors often add multiple items or quote full retail instead of sale prices. By producing receipts, online market data, and sworn appraisals, defense counsel can knock dollars off the tally. Drop below $1,000 and a grand-larceny felony morphs into a magistrate-level misdemeanor, opening the door to probation-only resolutions.
Mitigation Measures. In conjucntion with challenging the prosecution’s ability to prove a case, we also advise various mitigation measures tailored to your specific case. This afford us bargaining power and conveys to the prosecutor and judge that we are taking the case seriously.
First-offender diversion. Code § 19.2-303.2 lets some newcomers accept probation, restitution, and dismissal after good behavior. Though this is an option to entertain, we use it more as a safety net to afford a range of avenues to successfully litigate a larceny case.
Avoid a Larceny Conviction–Rudolphi Law Can Challenge Virginia Charges
A larceny arrest is not destiny—strategic, timely defense from Rudolphi Law can mean a reduced charge, a deferred finding, and potentially an expunged record instead of a life-long label of “thief.” Call 703-596-9566 or contact us today to put decisive advocacy between you and the Commonwealth before critical evidence disappears.