Workplaces are far from perfect. Nearly every work environment has something go unexpectedly wrong at one moment or another. Employees and customers can get aggressive, a business’ building may become structurally unsound, or a company may go out of business. Yet, perhaps no other type of workplace incident garners the amount of attention as alleged theft. Such allegations are serious, and could severely damage an accused individual’s life.
Allegations of theft were recently levied against a Bay area postal worker after authorities claimed they were tipped off to his actions. It is claimed the former “Federal Employee of the Year” told his subordinates to contact him if valuables were discovered separated from their packaging, then stole those goods when they were handed over to him. Amongst the alleged stolen items are prescription pills, rare coins, Civil War pocket watches, and $5,000 in cash. This man now faces several federal charges related to destroying and stealing mail and, if convicted, could face up to 20 years behind bars.
Federal crimes involving theft are heavily prosecuted. An aggressive prosecution requires an aggressive defense. Only by putting forth the best case possible does a suspect stand a chance of beating the charges and avoiding long-term consequences that may include prison, fines, and a haunting criminal record.
There may be several steps to a successful criminal defense. Facts must be assessed, evidence gathered and analyzed, witnesses interviewed, the law evaluated, and legal arguments crafted. Sometimes negotiations with prosecutors can result in reduced charges, but many criminal defendants want to completely beat the charges. If this option is chosen, then an attorney will do everything in his or her power to convince a jury during a trial that the prosecution has failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: The San Jose Mercury News, “San Jose: Postal inspector charged with stealing cash, valuables from mail,” Paul Rogers, June 27, 2014