Clearwater Theft Attorney
Theft involves taking property without proper authorization. It can be something as small as stealing an item from a store to cleaning out someone’s safe in their home. Any theft conviction can result in serious penalties but also endanger your career, since many companies will not hire someone they cannot trust with money. Give us a call at The Reep Law Firm to speak with our Clearwater theft attorney about your charges. We have helped many clients beat the charges.
Hire a Clearwater Theft Attorney Immediately
Any conviction for theft can derail your life. Stealing something valued at less than $750 is petit theft, which is a misdemeanor. However, you can face a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail, along with fines and other penalties.
An example of petit theft is taking a $30 bracelet from a store or stealing a $5 bag of bread. Going to jail for up to a year is a stiff sentence for taking an item with so little value.
Penalties increase with the value of the goods stolen:
- Third-degree grand theft: Stealing items valued from $750 to under $20,000. You can end up in prison for up to five years.
- Second-degree grand theft: Items are valued at least $20,000 but less than $100,000. You can end up in prison for a maximum of 15 years.
- First-degree grand theft: If you steal $100,000 or more, you can end up in prison for a maximum of 30 years.
If you steal multiple items, the state can add them together, which means more severe charges. So someone who steals 10 items valued at $100 a piece is facing a felony charge since the combined items are valued at $1,000.
We can defend men and women charged with theft. Let us first review the evidence. To obtain a conviction, the state needs proof of your intent to deprive the owner of the property. That is hard to prove unless you admit to stealing.
There might be innocent reasons why you have items in your possession without paying for them. For example, you could have forgotten that you put a smaller item inside a larger one when you went to check out. Or you could have had permission to borrow an item from a person and forgotten to return it. You cannot be convicted unless the state proves every element of the offense.
Any conviction is possibly disastrous, leaving you with a criminal record. Theft charges come up for discussion when people apply for a job, apartment, or professional license. Any theft offense can keep you from working basic jobs, such as a sales associate around a cash register.
Contact The Reep Law Firm
Are you facing theft charges? Call our office to speak with a Clearwater theft attorney about what happened and why you are not guilty. Our firm does not sit back and wait for the state to hand over a folder of evidence. We can proactively begin building your defense if you contact us quickly.
