Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving Clients Accused of Forgery in Delaware
Have you been charged with forgery in Delaware? Forgery is a serious crime under Delaware law, and it comes with severe consequences upon conviction. If you are facing forgery charges, it is extremely important to speak with a Wilmington forgery defense lawyer as soon as possible. There are different classifications for different types of forgery crimes. However, you should know that, if you are convicted of a forgery crime, the penalties are serious. In some cases you can face long terms of imprisonment and very costly financial fines.
Even after you serve out your sentence, a forgery conviction means that you will have a criminal record. As such, you can be ineligible for certain benefits, and it may become impossible to secure certain forms of employment or lines of credit. My name is Michael Modica, and I have spent more than 40 years assisting clients who have been accused of crimes in Delaware. I am an aggressive Wilmington criminal defense attorney with decades of experience building defenses for clients charged with white collar crimes. With criminal defense cases, it is important to get started on your defense as soon as possible.
Elements of a Delaware Forgery Crime
What are the elements of forgery under Delaware law? Under ยง 861 of the Delaware Code, a person is guilty of forgery when the person, with the intent to defraud, deceive, or injure another person, does any of the following:
- Alters any written instrument of another person without the other person’s authority; or
- Makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues, or transfers any written instrument which purports to be the act of another person, whether real or fictitious, who did not authorize that act; or
- Possesses a written instrument, knowing that it was made, completed, or altered under circumstances constituting forgery.
There are also other circumstances that can result in a forgery charge in Delaware, and it is extremely important to seek help with your defense if you have been charged with forgery.
Penalties for a Forgery Conviction in Delaware
What are the penalties for a forgery conviction? The penalty largely depends upon the type of forgery, the instrument involved, and the circumstances of the case. In general, under Chapter 42 of the Delaware Code, most forgery convictions fall into one of the following categories:
- Class F felony (first-degree forgery), which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to three years;
- Class G felony (second-degree forgery), which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to two years; and
- Class A misdemeanor (third-degree forgery), which is punishable by up to one year of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,300.
In all forgery convictions, the defendant is also required to make restitution to the injured party. Restitution typically involves compensating the injured party in full for any financial losses that she or he experienced as a result of the crime.
Contact a New Castle County Forgery Defense Attorney
As you can see, the penalties for a forgery conviction are serious. You do not want to manage the complicated aspects of the Delaware criminal law system on your own if you are facing forgery charges. My name is Michael Modica, and I am a dedicatedWilmington forgery defense lawyer. With years of experience in a wide variety of criminal defense matters, I can get started on your forgery defense today. Contact the law offices of Michael W. Modica to learn more about how I can assist with your case.
