Legal Question in Criminal Law in Washington

Re: penalty for class c felony theft

The maximum penalty is 5 years/$10k. However, Washington State uses a sentencing matrix to determine an offender's standard range based upon prior criminal convictions and the seriousness of the current crime. For example, a person convicted of Theft 2nd Degree (class C) and an offender score of "0" would be facing a jail term of 0-60 days, whereas an offender with a score of "3" would receive a jail term within a range of 2-6 months.

You can find an interactive online sentencing manual for Theft 2nd Degree at the following link:

http://www.sgc.wa.gov/PUBS/Interactive/Sentencing_Form.asp?pid=706725

There are also exceptions/alternatives to standard range sentences, e.g. first-offender waiver, drug court, drug offender sentencing, etc.