Wichita Bail Bonds Blog

In Kansas, the amount of money involved determines if a theft or financial crime is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Stealing or unlawfully taking $1,500 or more is considered a felony. Anything below that amount is treated as a misdemeanor, though prior convictions or aggravating factors can increase the severity of the charge.

Felony Theft Thresholds

Under Kansas law, theft becomes a felony when the value of property or money taken meets certain levels,

• 1,500 to 25,000 dollars – Level 9 nonperson felony (punishable by up to 17 months in prison)
• 25,000 to 100,000 dollars – Level 7 nonperson felony (up to 34 months in prison)
• Over 100,000 dollars – Level 5 nonperson felony (up to 136 months in prison)

Misdemeanor Theft

If the stolen property or money is worth less than 1,500 dollars, it is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, which can carry up to one year in county jail and fines up to 2,500 dollars. However, multiple misdemeanor theft convictions can be elevated to a felony, even for smaller amounts.

Other Financial Felonies

Felony charges can also apply to crimes involving money such as fraud, forgery, or embezzlement. In these cases, the value of the financial loss, intent, and method of the crime determine the felony level. Even if the amount is small, using deception or falsified documents can lead to a felony charge.

In Kansas, stealing or unlawfully taking 1,500 dollars or more is a felony, with higher penalties for larger amounts. Less than 1,500 dollars is usually a misdemeanor unless there are prior convictions or aggravating factors.