Theft Crimes Charges in Kentucky
Theft by unlawful taking is graded almost entirely by the value of what was taken. Kentucky raised the felony threshold from $500 to $1,000 in 2021, and a great deal of material online still quotes the old number.
What the statute carries
| Under $500 | Class B misdemeanor |
|---|---|
| $500 to under $1,000 | Class A misdemeanor |
| $1,000 to under $10,000 | Class D felony |
| $10,000 to under $1,000,000 | Class C felony |
Source: KRS 514.030. Checked 2026-09-20.
Three things people get wrong
- A firearm of any value is a Class D felony regardless of what it is worth.
- Three or more convictions in the $500-to-$1,000 band within five years make the next one a Class D felony.
- Value is the Commonwealth's to prove, and it is frequently the most contested fact in a theft case because it decides the grade.
Questions people ask about this charge
How Kentucky grades an offense
| Grade | Prison or jail | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A felony | 20 to 50 years, or life | $1,000 to $10,000, or double the gain |
| Class B felony | 10 to 20 years | $1,000 to $10,000, or double the gain |
| Class C felony | 5 to 10 years | $1,000 to $10,000, or double the gain |
| Class D felony | 1 to 5 years | $1,000 to $10,000, or double the gain |
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 12 months | Up to $500 |
| Class B misdemeanor | Up to 90 days | Up to $250 |
| Violation | No jail | Up to $250 |
Sources: KRS 532.060, KRS 532.090, KRS 534.030, KRS 534.040.
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