Washington criminal charge
Theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property in Washington
Theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9A.56.096. Its classification is not fixed: Washington assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by RCW 9A.56.096.
What is the penalty for theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($5,000 or more) — Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is $5,000 or more.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(b)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($5,000 or more) — Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is $5,000 or more.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($750 to $5,000) — Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is $750 or more but less than $5,000.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($750 to $5,000) — Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is $750 or more but less than $5,000.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property (under $750) — Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is less than $750.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property (under $750) — Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is less than $750.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
Applies to crimes committed on or after July 1, 1984.
How is theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($5,000 or more) | Class B Felony | Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is $5,000 or more. | RCW 9A.56.096(5)(a) |
| Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($750 to $5,000) | Class C Felony | Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is $750 or more but less than $5,000. | RCW 9A.56.096(5)(b) |
| Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property (under $750) | Gross Misdemeanor | Applies when the value of the rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is less than $750. | RCW 9A.56.096(5)(c) |
Common questions about theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property in Washington
Is theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property ranges from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Class B Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.56.096.
Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($5,000 or more): Class B Felony (RCW 9A.56.096(5)(a)) · Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property ($750 to $5,000): Class C Felony (RCW 9A.56.096(5)(b)) · Theft of rental/leased/lease-purchased/loaned property (under $750): Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.56.096(5)(c))
What are the penalties for theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property in Washington?
Penalties for theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Gross Misdemeanor up to a Class B Felony — with the ranges set by RCW 9A.20.021; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Washington statute covers theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property?
Theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property is governed by RCW 9A.56.096 (Theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.