Bail Questions • Charges and Penalties • Arizona
What Counts as Embezzlement in Arizona?
Embezzlement in Arizona means converting money or property entrusted to you to an unauthorized use, charged as theft.
Quick answer
Embezzlement in Arizona means converting money or property entrusted to you to an unauthorized use, charged as theft. Common examples are a bookkeeper writing checks to herself or a cashier skimming the register. Penalties follow the theft value table, from a misdemeanor under $1,000 to a class 2 felony at $25,000 or more.
Examples of embezzlement
Arizona has no separate embezzlement statute. The conduct is charged as theft under A.R.S. 13-1802, which includes converting property entrusted to you for an unauthorized term or use. The common thread is trust: the person had lawful access to the money or property and used it as their own.
Typical examples: a bookkeeper who writes company checks to herself; a cashier who skims the register; a property manager who pockets rent payments; a caregiver who uses a client's debit card; a treasurer who moves club or church funds into a personal account; an employee who sells company inventory on the side; a trustee who spends trust money; a contractor who takes a deposit and spends it elsewhere. The amount can be small and still be charged; the relationship of trust is what makes it embezzlement in everyday language.
Penalties follow the theft value table
The class depends on the total value taken, and amounts from a continuing scheme are added together. The statute provides: under $1,000, a class 1 misdemeanor; $1,000 to under $2,000, a class 6 felony; $2,000 to under $3,000, a class 5 felony; $3,000 to under $4,000, a class 4 felony; $4,000 to under $25,000, a class 3 felony; $25,000 or more, a class 2 felony. Restitution to the employer or client is ordered on conviction.
Larger cases are often charged alongside a fraudulent scheme under A.R.S. 13-2310, a class 2 felony that covers a scheme or artifice to defraud. Forgery and identity theft counts can be added when checks or accounts were altered. Whether the state can prove intent, and how the total is calculated, are questions for a defense attorney. A conviction also appears on employment background checks.
Bail for an embezzlement arrest
Many embezzlement cases begin with a summons rather than an arrest, after an audit and a police report. When there is an arrest, it is booked at the 4th Avenue Jail and bail is set at the initial appearance within 24 hours. Lower felony classes commonly see bonds from a few thousand to $25,000. Large cases charged as fraudulent schemes, especially with out-of-state ties or a large restitution figure, can carry bail well into the tens of thousands or more.
The agent confirms the amount on the court record, checks for holds, and posts at the 4th Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room. Bonds under about $25,000 are often written on a signature with a qualified cosigner; larger ones may need collateral. The premium follows the filed rate, typically 10%. See theft bail bonds and large bail bonds.
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Related Questions
Is embezzlement a felony in Arizona?
It is a felony when the value is $1,000 or more under A.R.S. 13-1802, rising to a class 2 felony at $25,000 or more. Under $1,000 it is a class 1 misdemeanor. Large cases are often also charged as a fraudulent scheme, a class 2 felony.
What is the difference between theft and embezzlement?
In Arizona both are charged under the theft statute. Embezzlement is the everyday term for theft by someone who was entrusted with the property, such as an employee or trustee, and converted it. The penalty classes are the same; the trust relationship is what prosecutors emphasize.
Can you go to jail for embezzling a small amount?
The statute allows jail even for amounts under $1,000, which is a class 1 misdemeanor with up to 6 months possible. Many first offenders receive probation and restitution. Amounts taken over time are added together, which can push a case into felony territory.
Does an employer have to press charges for embezzlement?
No. The employer reports it and the prosecutor decides whether to file. An employer can also sue civilly or negotiate repayment, but a repayment agreement does not prevent criminal charges. Anyone contacted about an internal investigation should talk to a defense attorney before answering questions.
How much is bail for embezzlement in Arizona?
Lower felony classes commonly carry bonds from a few thousand to $25,000, set at the initial appearance. Cases charged as fraudulent schemes with large losses can run well into the tens of thousands. The premium is typically 10%. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.