Theft Crimes

Theft crimes under Florida law include misdemeanor petit theft, retail theft, and writing a worthless check as well as felonies such as grand theft, dealing in stolen property, false verification of ownership on a pawnbroker transaction, failure to return leased property, forgery, uttering, and welfare fraud.

Generally speaking, the State must prove two elements beyond a reasonable doubt to prove Theft.

1. The person knowingly and unlawfully obtained or used, or endeavored to obtain or to use someone else’s property.
2. The person did so with intent to, either temporarily or permanently, deprive the other person of his or her right to the property or a benefit from the property OR appropriate the property of the other person to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to it.

Theft crimes can be more complicated than they seem, especially at the felony level, and having an attorney represent you could prevent a conviction on your record.

All theft crimes carry the potential for jail, and you should not plead guilty to the charge without understanding all the legal defenses available to you. Even if you committed the crime, you have options other than a guilty plea and harsh sentence. An attorney can review your case and make early contact with the State Attorney’s Office. In some cases involving misdemeanor thefts, you may be eligible for a Pretrial Intervention program. Other times, making restitution may be an option. In all theft cases – misdemeanor and felony, having an attorney make early contact with the State Attorney’s Office is key. At The Law Office of Tiffany H. Poore, we will present mitigation, discuss defenses, and negotiate on your behalf to prevent you from receiving the harshest of sentences.
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If you have been accused of committing a theft crime in Jacksonville or Northeast Florida, contact The Law Office of Tiffany H. Poore for a free consultation.