South Carolina
South Carolina Theft Laws: Petit vs Grand Larceny and Shoplifting
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 14, 2026). · 7 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
In South Carolina, larceny becomes a felony when the property is "valued in excess of two thousand dollars" (S.C. Code 16-13-30(B)). Property worth $2,000 or less is petit larceny, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 30 days in jail. Shoplifting has its own statute, S.C. Code 16-13-110, with the same dollar lines, and a third conviction for a value-graded property offense is punished as a Class E felony under 16-1-57. For other states, see our guide to theft laws by state.
Information last verified on 2026-10-13. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Jurisdiction scope: This article covers South Carolina state law on larceny and shoplifting in Title 16, Chapter 13 of the South Carolina Code of Laws (including 16-13-30, 16-13-110 and 16-13-135), the offense classification and repeat-offense sections in Title 16, Chapter 1, the nonferrous-metal and forest-product offenses in Title 16, Chapter 11, the stolen-vehicle offense in 16-21-80, the stolen-handgun offense in 16-23-30(C), the vulnerable-adult exploitation offense in 43-35-85(D), and the civil shoplifting remedy in 15-75-40. It does not cover federal theft offenses, city or county ordinances, or identity theft and fraud schemes, which have their own pages linked below.
What counts as larceny in South Carolina
South Carolina divides simple larceny into two grades by value. Under S.C. Code 16-13-30(A), simple larceny of goods, choses in action, bank bills, chattels or other personal property, or of a fixture or product of the soil severed by an unlawful act, that "has a value of two thousand dollars or less, is petit larceny, a misdemeanor, triable in the magistrates court or municipal court." Under 16-13-30(B):
"Larceny of goods, chattels, instruments, or other personalty valued in excess of two thousand dollars is grand larceny. Upon conviction, the person is guilty of a felony and must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than: (1) five years if the value of the personalty is more than two thousand dollars but less than ten thousand dollars; (2) ten years if the value of the personalty is ten thousand dollars or more."
Section 16-13-30 grades larceny by value only. It has no separate tier for a firearm or a vehicle; receiving or disposing of a stolen vehicle (16-21-80) and receiving or possessing a stolen handgun (16-23-30(C)) are separate offenses, listed below. Section 16-13-35 adds a valuation rule for one kind of property: when a credit card "currently in force" is the subject of a larceny, its value "shall be prima facie presumed to be greater than fifty dollars."
South Carolina larceny and shoplifting penalties by value
The terms below come from the offense sections themselves. The classification lists in S.C. Code 16-1-90 assign grand larceny and felony shoplifting to felony classes, and 16-1-20(A) sets the class maximums ("for a Class E felony, not more than ten years" and "for a Class F felony, not more than five years").
| Value | Offense and grade | Statutory penalty |
|---|---|---|
| $2,000 or less | Petit larceny (16-13-30(A)) or misdemeanor shoplifting (16-13-110(B)(1)), triable in magistrates or municipal court | Fine up to $1,000 or up to 30 days |
| More than $2,000 but less than $10,000 | Grand larceny (16-13-30(B)(1)), listed in 16-1-90(F) as a Class F felony | Up to 5 years; fine in the court's discretion |
| More than $2,000 but less than $10,000 | Felony shoplifting (16-13-110(B)(2)), listed in 16-1-90(F) as a Class F felony | Fine up to $1,000 or up to 5 years, or both |
| $10,000 or more | Grand larceny (16-13-30(B)(2)), listed in 16-1-90(E) as a Class E felony | Up to 10 years; fine in the court's discretion |
| $10,000 or more | Felony shoplifting (16-13-110(B)(3)), listed in 16-1-90(E) as a Class E felony | Up to 10 years |
| Third or subsequent conviction of a value-graded offense | Punished as a Class E felony (16-1-57) | Up to 10 years (16-1-20(A)(5)) |
The figures in the table are the ordinary statutory ranges, not the sentence a court will impose in a given case. Two general sections can change them. S.C. Code 16-1-57 provides:
"A person convicted of an offense for which the term of imprisonment is contingent upon the value of the property involved must, upon conviction for a third or subsequent offense, be punished as prescribed for a Class E felony."
Larceny under 16-13-30 and shoplifting under 16-13-110 both set their prison terms by the value of the property. Separately, S.C. Code 16-1-120 adds one to five years to the sentence for a new felony committed within 360 days of release by a person previously convicted of "a Class A, B, or C felony offense or an exempt offense which provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years or more." A lawyer licensed in South Carolina can explain how these sections apply to a particular record.
Shoplifting in South Carolina
South Carolina has a dedicated shoplifting statute. Under S.C. Code 16-13-110(A), a person is guilty of shoplifting if he:
- takes possession of, carries away, transfers within a store or from one person to another, or causes to be carried away merchandise offered for sale "with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use, or benefit of the merchandise without paying the full retail value";
- alters, transfers or removes a label, price tag or other value marking and "attempts to purchase the merchandise personally or in consort with another at less than the full retail value with the intention of depriving the merchant of the full retail value of the merchandise"; or
- transfers merchandise "from the container in which it is displayed to any other container with intent to deprive the merchant of the full retail value."
"Full retail value" means "the merchant's stated or advertised price of merchandise," and "merchandise" means goods of any type "regardless of value" (16-13-105). Shoplifting is graded on the same lines as larceny: $2,000 or less is a misdemeanor, and more than $2,000 is a felony.
Under 16-13-120, "It is permissible to infer that any person wilfully concealing unpurchased goods or merchandise of any store or other mercantile establishment either on the premises or outside the premises of the store has concealed the article with the intention of converting it to his own use without paying the purchase price thereof." Finding concealed merchandise on the person or among the person's belongings is also evidence of willful concealment. Section 16-13-130 states that the shoplifting offense is "not exclusive" and is "in addition to previously existing offenses," and 16-13-111 requires the magistrate or city recorder to report shoplifting convictions to the State Law Enforcement Division so that agencies can check for a prior record.
A related retail offense, creating or affixing a fraudulent product code to buy goods below the actual sale price (16-13-131), is a misdemeanor for a first offense (fine up to $5,000 or up to 3 years, or both) and a felony for a second or subsequent offense (fine up to $10,000 or up to 10 years, or both).
Merchant detention
The shoplifting provisions address a merchant's detention of a suspect through 16-13-140, which gives the merchant a defense in a lawsuit brought "by reason of having been delayed" on or near the store premises to investigate ownership of merchandise. The defense applies if "(1) The person was delayed in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time to permit such investigation, and (2) reasonable cause existed to believe that the person delayed had committed the crime of shoplifting." Both conditions are required.
Can a store demand money after shoplifting in South Carolina?
Yes. S.C. Code 15-75-40 creates a civil claim. An adult or emancipated minor (defined as a person over 16 who was no longer a dependent of or in the custody of a parent or guardian) who commits shoplifting "is civilly liable to the operator of the establishment in an amount consisting of":
"(1) the retail price of the merchandise if not recovered in merchantable condition up to an amount not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars; plus (2) a penalty not to exceed the greater of three times the retail price of the merchandise or one hundred fifty dollars. In no event may the penalty exceed five hundred dollars."
- Who is covered: "shoplifting" in this section means an act punishable under 16-13-110 and "also includes the theft of cash or merchandise by employees of a mercantile establishment" (15-75-40(A)(1)).
- Parents and guardians: custodial parents or legal guardians of an unemancipated minor "who knew or should have known of the minor's propensity to steal" face the same amounts (15-75-40(D)), and the court must consider mitigating circumstances bearing on their supervision (15-75-40(H)).
- No conviction required: "A conviction or a plea of guilty for committing shoplifting is not a prerequisite to the bringing of a civil suit, obtaining a judgment, or collecting that judgment under this section" (15-75-40(E)). The burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence.
- Demand letters: a merchant may demand payment "orally or in writing" before suing. A written notice must be sent by certified mail and must state substantially the form set out in 15-75-40(G), which gives the person 30 days from mailing to pay or reach a written payment agreement before the merchant brings suit.
- Use in other proceedings: statements of the defendant, and evidence from an attempt to reach a civil settlement or from the civil case, are "inadmissible in any other court proceeding related to the shoplifting" (15-75-40(K)).
- Criminal charges: "A store which utilizes the provisions of this section is prohibited from subsequently filing criminal charges against the individual pursuant to Section 16-13-110" (15-75-40(L)).
The statute sets the most a store can recover under this section; it does not decide whether a particular demand is valid. A lawyer licensed in South Carolina can advise on a specific letter.
Organized retail crime
S.C. Code 16-13-135 defines organized retail crime as "two or more people conspiring to commit theft of retail property from a retail establishment with the intent to sell, barter, exchange, or reenter such retail property into commerce for monetary or other gain." Under 16-13-135(B)(1), it is unlawful to "commit organized retail crime, with a value exceeding two thousand dollars aggregated over a ninety-day period, with the intent to cause the retail property to be placed in the control of a retail property fence or other person in exchange for consideration." Receiving, possessing or selling property taken that way, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe it is stolen, is also unlawful (16-13-135(B)(2)). "Value" includes all applicable taxes.
| Offense under 16-13-135 | Grade | Statutory penalty |
|---|---|---|
| First offense, more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 | Misdemeanor | Fine up to $5,000 or up to 3 years, or both |
| First offense, more than $10,000 but less than $20,000 | Felony | Fine up to $10,000 or up to 5 years, or both |
| First offense, more than $20,000 but less than $50,000 | Felony | Fine up to $20,000 or up to 10 years, or both |
| First offense, more than $50,000 | Felony | Fine up to $50,000 or up to 20 years, or both |
| Second or subsequent offense, "regardless of the value of the retail property in any offense" | Felony | Fine up to $50,000 or up to 20 years, or both |
| Organized retail crime of an aggravated nature: willfully and maliciously damaging property "in excess of two thousand dollars" or causing moderate or great bodily injury | Felony | Fine up to $50,000 or up to 15 years, or both |
Multiple offenses within a 90-day period "may be aggregated into a single count with the aggregated value used to determine the total value of the property" (16-13-135(E)(3)), and acts in different counties may be prosecuted in any one of them. Property acquired in violation of the section is subject to forfeiture.
Two classification entries do not match the section text word for word. The misdemeanor list in 16-1-100(A) describes the first tier as a first offense "when property value is greater than $200 dollars but less than $10,000," while 16-13-135(E)(1)(a) itself reads "more than two thousand dollars but less than ten thousand dollars." The felony list in 16-1-90(B) places the second-offense tier among Class B felonies, which 16-1-20(A)(2) caps at "not more than twenty-five years," while 16-13-135(E)(2) itself sets "not more than twenty years." The penalties in the table above are the ones written in 16-13-135.
Other theft offenses with their own grades
Chapter 13 of Title 16 ("Forgery, Larceny, Embezzlement, False Pretenses and Cheats") contains several theft offenses with their own penalties. Chapter 11 adds the nonferrous-metal and forest-product offenses, Chapter 21 the stolen-vehicle offense and Chapter 23 the stolen-handgun offense:
| Offense | S.C. Code | Grade and statutory penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Stealing bonds, warrants, bills or promissory notes | 16-13-40 | Same tiers as larceny: $2,000 or less misdemeanor (fine up to $1,000 or 30 days); over $2,000 to under $10,000 felony up to 5 years; $10,000 or more felony up to 10 years |
| Stealing livestock | 16-13-50 | $2,000 or less misdemeanor (fine up to $1,000 or 30 days, or both); over $2,000 to under $10,000 felony (up to 5 years or fine up to $500, or both); $10,000 or more felony (up to 10 years or fine up to $2,500, or both); a vehicle used is confiscated |
| Stealing or taking cultured wildlife from a posted aquaculture operation | 16-13-65, 16-13-66 | Misdemeanor with restitution: first offense fine up to $1,000 or up to 1 year, or both; second offense fine up to $2,000 or up to 1 year, or both; third or subsequent offense fine up to $5,000 or 6 months to 2 years, or both; under $200, tried in magistrates or municipal court with a fine up to $1,000 or up to 30 days, or both |
| Stealing a dog | 16-13-60 | Misdemeanor; fine up to $500 or up to 6 months, or both |
| Stealing boats and boat equipment | 16-13-70 | Same three value tiers as larceny, plus payment of damages |
| Larceny of a bicycle | 16-13-80 | Misdemeanor punishable at the court's discretion; under $2,000, triable in magistrates or municipal court with a fine up to $1,000 or up to 30 days |
| Purse snatching "in circumstances not constituting grand larceny or robbery" | 16-13-150 | Misdemeanor; up to 3 years |
| Breaking into a motor vehicle, or a fuel tank or pump, with intent to steal | 16-13-160 | Felony; up to 5 years or fine up to $1,000, or both |
| Entering, without breaking, or attempting to enter a house or vessel with intent to steal or commit any other crime | 16-13-170 | Felony; fine in the court's discretion or up to 10 years, or both |
| Receiving stolen goods | 16-13-180 | $2,000 or less misdemeanor (fine up to $1,000 or 30 days); over $2,000 to under $10,000 misdemeanor ("fined not less than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three years"); $10,000 or more felony ("fined not less than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten years"); offenses within 90 days may be aggregated |
| Driving off without paying for gasoline | 16-13-185 | Misdemeanor; fine up to $500 or up to 30 days, or both; license suspension possible |
| Stealing, or knowingly buying or receiving stolen, works of literature or art belonging to a library, gallery, museum, collection, exhibition or government office | 16-13-330 | Misdemeanor; fine up to $100 or up to 30 days |
| Concealing or removing library property | 16-13-331 | Misdemeanor; fine up to $600 or up to 6 months; under $100, fine up to $200 or up to 30 days |
| Theft of electric current | 16-13-380 | First offense misdemeanor (fine up to $500 or up to 30 days); later offenses misdemeanor (fine up to $10,000 or up to 3 years, or both) |
| Tampering with or bypassing a utility meter | 16-13-385 | First offense misdemeanor (fine up to $500 or 30 days); second, misdemeanor up to 3 years; third or subsequent, felony up to 5 years; higher grades for profit, property damage over $5,000, injury or death |
| Avoiding payment for telecommunications services | 16-13-400 | Misdemeanor; fine up to $1,000 or up to 1 year, or both |
| Failing to return or fraudulently appropriating rented or leased property | 16-13-420 | Same three value tiers as larceny; does not apply to lease-purchase or conditional sales contracts |
| Obtaining a refund with a false or altered driver's license or ID | 16-13-440(B) | Under $2,000 misdemeanor (fine up to $2,500 or up to 6 months, or both); $2,000 or more felony (fine up to $5,500 or up to 5 years, or both); with two or more prior convictions under that subsection, felony up to 10 years regardless of value |
| Receiving, possessing, concealing, selling or disposing of a stolen vehicle | 16-21-80 | $2,000 or less misdemeanor (fine up to $1,000 or 30 days, or both); over $2,000 to under $10,000 felony up to 5 years; $10,000 or more felony up to 10 years |
| Damaging property to obtain nonferrous metals (including copper wire and pipe, catalytic converters and lead-acid batteries) | 16-11-523 | Under $5,000 in damage or loss, misdemeanor (fine in the court's discretion or up to 3 years, or both); $5,000 or more, felony up to 10 years; felony up to 15 years if great bodily injury results and up to 30 years if death results |
| Cutting, destroying, removing or transporting timber or other forest products without the landowner's consent | 16-11-580 | $1,000 or less, misdemeanor (first offense fine up to $1,500 or up to 30 days, or both); more than $1,000 but less than $5,000, misdemeanor up to 5 years on a first offense and felony up to 10 years on a second or subsequent offense; $5,000 or more, up to 10 years (misdemeanor on a first offense, felony after) |
| Knowingly buying, selling, transporting, pawning, receiving or possessing a stolen handgun | 16-23-30(C), 16-23-50(A)(1) | Felony regardless of value; fine up to $2,000 or up to 5 years, or both |
Outside these chapters, a person who "knowingly and wilfully exploits a vulnerable adult," which includes an "improper, unlawful, or unauthorized use of the funds, assets, property" of the vulnerable adult for the person's own profit or advantage, "is guilty of a felony" punishable by a fine up to $5,000 or up to 5 years, or both (S.C. Code 43-35-10, 43-35-85(D)).
Two related sections add civil or forfeiture consequences. A person injured by a violation of the receiving-stolen-goods section may sue the person convicted "for three times the amount of damages suffered, if any, plus costs of the action and reasonable attorney fees" (16-13-181). And under 16-13-175, a motor vehicle used in a larceny "may be confiscated and forfeited" if the offender is its registered owner and used it during the offense.
Recent changes
- 2025: 2025 Act No. 1 (H.3523) rewrote the organized retail crime section, 16-13-135, effective March 7, 2025. The current text includes the 90-day aggregation rule, the value tiers above and the aggravated offense.
- 2013: 2013 Act No. 82 created the organized retail crime section, effective June 13, 2013, and added the fraudulent product code offense (16-13-131), effective the same day.
- 2010: The petit and grand larceny section (16-13-30) and the shoplifting section (16-13-110) were last amended by 2010 Act No. 273, effective June 2, 2010.
Related legal issues
- Obtaining property by false pretenses, breach of trust and other fraud schemes are covered in our guide to South Carolina scam and fraud laws.
- Financial identity fraud is covered in South Carolina identity theft laws.
- Whether a larceny or shoplifting record can be cleared is covered in South Carolina expungement laws.
Federal theft offenses are covered on the theft laws by state hub.
Related
- Theft laws by state
- South Carolina scam and fraud laws
- South Carolina identity theft laws
- South Carolina expungement laws
This article provides general legal information about South Carolina larceny and shoplifting law, not legal advice. Statutes change and their application depends on the facts. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in South Carolina.
Last updated: 2026-10-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the felony theft threshold in South Carolina?
Larceny becomes grand larceny, a felony, when the property is valued in excess of $2,000 (S.C. Code 16-13-30(B)). From more than $2,000 to less than $10,000 the maximum is 5 years; at $10,000 or more it is 10 years.
Is stealing $2,000 a felony in South Carolina?
No. Property with a value of $2,000 or less is petit larceny, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or up to 30 days (16-13-30(A)). The felony starts above $2,000.
What is petit larceny in South Carolina?
Petit larceny is simple larceny of property worth $2,000 or less. It is a misdemeanor triable in magistrates or municipal court, with a fine up to $1,000 or up to 30 days in jail (S.C. Code 16-13-30(A)).
Is shoplifting a felony in South Carolina?
Shoplifting is a felony when the merchandise is worth more than $2,000: up to 5 years below $10,000 and up to 10 years at $10,000 or more (S.C. Code 16-13-110(B)). At $2,000 or less it is a misdemeanor.
Can a third shoplifting conviction be a felony in South Carolina?
S.C. Code 16-1-57 provides that a person convicted of an offense whose prison term depends on the value of the property must, on a third or subsequent conviction, be punished as prescribed for a Class E felony, which carries up to 10 years.
Can a store make me pay after shoplifting in South Carolina?
Under S.C. Code 15-75-40, a store may recover the retail price of merchandise not recovered in merchantable condition (up to $1,500) plus a penalty of up to the greater of three times the retail price or $150, never more than $500. No conviction is required. Under 15-75-40(L), a store which uses this section is prohibited from subsequently filing criminal charges against the individual under 16-13-110.
Can a store detain someone for shoplifting in South Carolina?
S.C. Code 16-13-140 gives a merchant a defense to a lawsuit over a delay to investigate ownership of merchandise if the person was delayed in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time and reasonable cause existed to believe the person had shoplifted.
What is organized retail crime in South Carolina?
Under S.C. Code 16-13-135, it is two or more people conspiring to steal retail property for resale. The offense requires a value exceeding $2,000 aggregated over 90 days; first offenses run from a misdemeanor up to 3 years to a felony up to 20 years, and a second offense is a felony up to 20 years regardless of value.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 16: CRIMES AND OFFENSES
§ 16-13-30Petit larceny; grand larcenyIn force
(A) Simple larceny of any article of goods, choses in action, bank bills, bills receivable, chattels, or other article of personalty of which by law larceny may be committed, or of any fixture, part, or product of the soil severed from the soil by an unlawful act, or has a value of two thousand dollars or less, is petit larceny, a misdemeanor, triable in the magistrates court or municipal court, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 22-3-540, 22-3-545, 22-3-550, and 14-25-65. Upon conviction, the person must be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days. (B) Larceny of goods, chattels, instruments, or other personalty valued in excess of two thousand dollars is grand larceny. Upon conviction, the person is guilty of a felony and must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than: (1) five years if the value of the personalty is more than two thousand dollars but less than ten thousand dollars; (2) ten years if the value of the personalty is ten thousand dollars or more.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
§ 16-13-110ShopliftingIn force
(A) A person is guilty of shoplifting if he: (1) takes possession of, carries away, transfers from one person to another or from one area of a store or other retail mercantile establishment to another area, or causes to be carried away or transferred any merchandise displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use, or benefit of the merchandise without paying the full retail value; (2) alters, transfers, or removes any label, price tag marking, indicia of value, or any other markings which aid in determining value affixed to any merchandise displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale in a store or other retail mercantile establishment and attempts to purchase the merchandise personally or in consort with another at less than the full retail value with the intention of depriving the merchant of the full retail value of the merchandise; (3) transfers any merchandise displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment from the container in which it is displayed to any other container with intent to deprive the…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
§ 16-13-135Organized retail crime; penaltiesIn force
(A) As used in this section: (1) "Organized retail crime" means two or more people conspiring to commit theft of retail property from a retail establishment with the intent to sell, barter, exchange, or reenter such retail property into commerce for monetary or other gain. (2) "Retail property" means an article, merchandise, property, money or negotiable documents including gift cards or other forms of credit, products, commodities, items, or components intended to be sold in retail commerce. (3) "Retail property fence" means a person or business that buys retail property knowing or believing that the retail property is stolen. (4) "Theft" means to take possession of, carry away, transfer, or cause to be carried away the retail property of another with the intent to deprive the merchant of the possession, use, benefit, and value of the retail property. (5) "Value" means the retail value of an item as offered for sale to the public by the affected retail establishment and includes all applicable taxes.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
§ 16-13-140Defense to action for delay to investigate ownership of merchandiseIn force
In any action brought by reason of having been delayed by a merchant or merchant's employee or agent on or near the premises of a mercantile establishment for the purpose of investigation concerning the ownership of any merchandise, it shall be a defense to such action if: (1) The person was delayed in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time to permit such investigation, and (2) reasonable cause existed to believe that the person delayed had committed the crime of shoplifting.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
§ 16-13-120Shoplifting; presumptions from concealment of unpurchased goodsIn force
It is permissible to infer that any person wilfully concealing unpurchased goods or merchandise of any store or other mercantile establishment either on the premises or outside the premises of the store has concealed the article with the intention of converting it to his own use without paying the purchase price thereof within the meaning of Section 16-13-110. It is also permissible to infer that the finding of the unpurchased goods or merchandise concealed upon the person or among the belongings of the person is evidence of wilful concealment. If the person conceals or causes to be concealed the unpurchased goods or merchandise upon the person or among the belongings of another, it is also permissible to infer that the person so concealing such goods wilfully concealed them with the intention of converting them to his own use without paying the purchase price thereof within the meaning of Section 16-13-110.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
§ 16-1-90Crimes classified as feloniesIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(A) The following offenses are Class A felonies and the maximum terms established for a Class A felony, not more than thirty years, as set forth in Section 16-1-20(A), apply: 10-11-325(B)(2) Detonating an explosive or destructive device or igniting an incendiary device upon the capitol grounds or within the capitol building resulting in death to a person where there was not malice aforethought 16-3-50 Manslaughter—voluntary 16-3-29 Attempted murder 16-3-652 Criminal sexual conduct First degree 16-3-655(C)(2) Criminal sexual conduct, 1st degree, with minor less than 16, 2nd offense 16-3-656 Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct First degree 16-3-658 Criminal sexual conduct where victim is legal spouse (separated) First degree 16-3-910 Kidnapping 16-3-920 Conspiracy to commit kidnapping 16-3-1050(F) Abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death 16-3-1075(B)(2) Carjacking (great bodily injury) 16-3-2020(B)(2) Trafficking in persons—2nd offense 16-3-2020(C) Trafficking in persons in which the victim is under age eighteen—1st offense 16-11-110(A) Arson in the first degree 16-11-330(A) Robbery while armed with a deadly weapon 16-11-380(A) Entering bank with…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Also relied on in: South Carolina Assault and Battery Laws: Degrees and Penalties (2026)
§ 16-1-100Crimes classified as misdemeanorsIn force
(A) The following offenses are Class A misdemeanors and the maximum terms established for a Class A misdemeanor, not more than three years, as set forth in Section 16-1-20(A), apply: 4-11-130 Disbursing officers may not exceed or transfer appropriations 4-17-70 Wilful injury to courthouse or jail 5-21-30 Municipal officers prohibited from contracting with municipality 5-21-40 Officers required to account to municipality for interest collected on deposits 7-5-325 Fraudulent change of address by elector for registration for voting purposes 7-13-1920 Tampering with voting machine 7-25-10 False swearing in applying for registration (election laws) 7-25-70 Procuring or offering to procure votes by threats 8-11-30 Payment or receipt of salary not due to state officers or employees 9-1-1160(A) Collection of members contribution, failure to make payroll reports and remittances (State Retirement System) 10-11-315 Defacing, destroying or attempting to deface or destroy a monument or flag on the capitol grounds 10-11-320 Carrying or discharging a firearm on the capitol grounds or in the capitol building 10-11-360 Violation of article concerning offenses on capitol grounds and in capitol…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 15: CIVIL REMEDIES AND PROCEDURES
§ 15-75-40DefinitionsIn force
(A) As used in this section: (1) "Shoplifting" means an act punishable under Section 16-13-110 and also includes the theft of cash or merchandise by employees of a mercantile establishment; (2) "Store or other retail mercantile establishment" means an establishment as defined in Section 16-13-105(5); (3) "Emancipated minor" means a person over the age of sixteen at the time of the alleged shoplifting and who was no longer a dependent of or in the custody of a parent or legal guardian. (B) In a proceeding brought under this section the burden of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence. (C) An adult or emancipated minor who commits shoplifting against the property of a store or other retail mercantile establishment is civilly liable to the operator of the establishment in an amount consisting of: (1) the retail price of the merchandise if not recovered in merchantable condition up to an amount not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars; plus (2) a penalty not to exceed the greater of three times the retail price of the merchandise or one hundred fifty dollars. In no event may the penalty exceed five hundred dollars.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
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Sources and References
- S.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 13, Forgery, Larceny, Embezzlement, False Pretenses and Cheats (16-13-30 petit and grand larceny; 16-13-105 to 16-13-140 shoplifting and organized retail crime; other theft offenses)(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
- S.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 1, Classification of offenses (16-1-20, 16-1-57, 16-1-90, 16-1-100, 16-1-120)(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
- S.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 21, Motor vehicle offenses (16-21-80, stolen vehicles)(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
- S.C. Code 15-75-40, Civil liability for shoplifting(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
- S.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 11, Offenses against property (16-11-523 nonferrous metals; 16-11-580 forest products)(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
- S.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 23, Offenses involving weapons (16-23-30(C) stolen handguns; 16-23-50 penalties)(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
- S.C. Code Title 43, Chapter 35, Adult Protection (43-35-10 definitions; 43-35-85 penalties)(www.scstatehouse.gov).gov
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