Felony Theft Amount and Penalties in Kentucky

Theft by unlawful taking is a Class B misdemeanor unless an exception applies. $500 or more but less than $1,000 — Class A misdemeanor. $1,000 or more but less than $10,000 — Class D felony. $10,000 or more but less than $1,000,000 — Class C felony. $1,000,000 or more but less than $10,000,000 — Class B felony. $10,000,000 or more — Class B felony (must serve at least 50% before probation or parole). Regardless of value, theft of a firearm is a Class D felony, and three or more Class A misdemeanor theft convictions within 5 years makes it a Class D felony. During a declared emergency, the charge is one level higher. Separate thefts within one year may be aggregated.

Felonies are Class A through D. Unless otherwise provided by law, the authorized terms are: Class A — not less than 20 years nor more than 50 years, or life imprisonment; Class B — not less than 10 nor more than 20 years; Class C — not less than 5 nor more than 10 years; Class D — not less than 1 nor more than 5 years. Felony sentences are indeterminate (§ 532.060). Fines: except as otherwise provided for an offense defined outside the code, a person convicted of any felony shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $1,000 and not greater than $10,000 or double his gain from the offense, whichever is greater; fines are not imposed on a person the court determines to be indigent (§ 534.030).

Class A misdemeanor — jail term not to exceed 12 months and a fine not to exceed $500; Class B misdemeanor — not to exceed 90 days and a fine not to exceed $250. Violation — a fine not to exceed $250 (an offense punishable by a fine only or other punishment other than death or imprisonment is deemed a violation, § 532.020(4)). Fines are not imposed on a person determined to be indigent.