The Theft Ladder
RCW 9A.56.050 — $750 and $5,000 draw the lines between the degrees
| The value taken | The degree | The most it carries |
|---|---|---|
| The value takenNot more than $750 | The degreeTheft in the third degree, a gross misdemeanor | The most it carriesUp to 364 days and a $5,000 fine |
| The value takenMore than $750, up to $5,000 | The degreeTheft in the second degree, a class C felony | The most it carriesFive years and a $10,000 fine |
| The value takenMore than $5,000, or anything taken from another's person | The degreeTheft in the first degree, a class B felony | The most it carriesTen years and a $20,000 fine |
Theft includes wrongfully obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over another's property or services with intent to deprive them of it, and obtaining control by color or aid of deception.
Sources for this section (5)
- RCW 9A.56.020 — Theft; definition, defense
- RCW 9A.56.030 — Theft in the first degree
- RCW 9A.56.040 — Theft in the second degree
- RCW 9A.56.050 — Theft in the third degree
- RCW 9A.20.021 — Maximum sentences
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.