A telecommunication service unauthorized use totaling between $20,000 and $100,000 is classified as which felony level?

• A. Felony 3
• B. Felony 2
• C. Felony 1
• D. Class C Misdemeanor

Answer: (C)

For theft of service, the severity of the offense rises with the value of the loss. When telecommunication services are used without authorization and the total loss falls between twenty thousand and one hundred thousand dollars, the offense is classified as a first-degree felony. That level is the top tier of non-capital felonies, carrying substantial punishment (typically 5 to 99 years in prison) and a fine up to ten thousand dollars. A Class C misdemeanor would be far too lenient for this amount, and lower felony levels correspond to smaller loss ranges, so the first-degree felony best matches this dollar value.