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Columbus Criminal Forgery Lawyer
Criminal forgery is considered a white collar crime. It is a serious offense in the state of Ohio. If you are facing criminal forgery charges you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible. It is in your best interest to hire an experienced defense attorney who will fight for your rights and freedom. Contact Attorney Adam Burke now for your free consultation at (614) 280-9122.
Who can face Ohio Criminal Forgery charges?
A person stands to face Ohio criminal forgery charges if they seek to defraud someone, or facilitates fraud, in certain ways. Criminal forgery occurs if a person defrauds someone by:
- Forging someone’s writing without their authority.
- Forging writing to make it appear genuine when it is not.
- Uttering any writing that has been forged.
- Forging an identification card.
- Selling or distributing an identification card that is known to be forged.
If there is no loss of property or services, then forgery is considered a felony of the 5th degree.
If there was a property or service involved in the crime, and the value of the property lost by the victim of the forgery was between $7,500 and $150,000, forgery is charged as a felony of the 4th degree. If the value of the property lost happens to be more than $150,000, then forgery is considered to be a felony of the 3rd degree.
If the forgery targeted an elderly or a disabled person, the penalties are more severe. The forgery may be charged as a felony of the 3rd or even 2nd degree.
In cases where distribution and selling of identification cards was involved, forgery is a misdemeanor of the 1st degree. For repeat offenders, the court imposes additional fines.
Penalties for Criminal Forgery
A 1st degree misdemeanor criminal forgery will attract up to 6 months in the local jail, as well as fines of up to $1,000.
For a 4th degree felony, the court imposes a 6 to 8 month prison sentence, as well as fines of up to $5,000.
For a 3rd degree felony, it is a 1 to 5 year prison sentence, with up to $10,000 in fines. For a 2nd degree felony, the prison sentence is 2 to 8 years, and the fine is up to $20,000. 1
Attorney Adam Burke Llc — Columbus, OH Criminal Forgery AttorneyÂ
Laws dealing with forgery can be daunting and confusing, especially in Ohio, and it is highly recommended that you secure the services of a competent criminal attorney to defend you. If you have been charged with criminal forgery in Columbus or any of the surrounding areas in Ohio, contact Attorney Adam Burke now for your free consultation at (614) 280-9122.