Hotel Theft of Services - New York

In 2015, a record 33.7 million room-nights were sold to a record 58.3 million visitors. With the average hotel room costing over $300 per night, hotels are on alert for guests who fail to pay for lodging. Many hotels require a credit card to secure a room but occasionally the final bill including room service and other charges exceeds the card's credit limit. In an expensive Manhattan hotel, a few weeks including room service can easily exceed $10,000 which could lead to felony charges.

Misdemeanor theft of services, under P.L. 165.15(2) for hotels and motels is as follows:

Subsection 2. With intent to avoid payment for restaurant services rendered, or
for services rendered to him as a transient guest at a hotel, motel,
inn, tourist cabin, rooming house or comparable establishment, he avoids
or attempts to avoid such payment by unjustifiable failure or refusal to
pay, by stealth, or by any misrepresentation of fact which he knows to
be false. A person who fails or refuses to pay for such services is
presumed to have intended to avoid payment therefor;

Misdemeanor hotel theft of services penalties

• Jail
• A Conditional Discharge
• Permanent criminal record
• Crime involving moral turpitude (immigration consequence)

How Lance Fletcher can help

Lance Fletcher, a former Manhattan prosecutor and experienced criminal defense attorney can fight your hotel theft of services charges. We can look at the dates you allegedly checked in, any agreements allegedly signed, and dispute the charges and duration of your stay. Often, these types of accusations are because of a simple misunderstanding or a problem with the credit or debit card you were trying to use. Lance Fletcher successfully negotiated a dismissal for a client accused of not paying for over $10,000 in hotel charges. If you have been arrested because you were accused of not paying a hotel, contact us for a Evaluation evaluation 212-619-3900.