Grand & Petty Theft Tampa

Theft is defined under Florida §812.014 as “the act of knowingly obtaining or using another person’s property or denying them access to their belonging.”

Theft is a serious criminal offense and can carry severe charges depending on stolen property. You should speak with a qualified legal counsel if you were charged with a theft crime. Carlson Meissner & Hayslett is a leading criminal defense law firm with extensive experience in successfully defending Floridians charged with theft crimes.

Classification of Theft Crimes in Florida

Theft occurs when a person knowingly uses, obtains, or attempts to use another person’s property to temporarily or permanently deny the property owner the right to use their property. There are two ways of charging thefts in Florida based on the value of the property taken:

Petty (petit) Theft

Petty (petit) theft involves property valued at less than $750. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and fines of up to $1,000.

Grand Theft

Grand theft is when the property is worth more than $750. It is charged as a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison as per Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code guidelines.

Types of Theft Crimes in Florida

The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett handle theft cases involving:

Robbery
Check Forgery
Embezzlement
Worthless Checks
Burglary
Shoplifting
Credit Card Fraud
Buying or Receiving Stolen Goods
Theft of a Motor Vehicle
Theft from Public Office
Grand Theft
Identity Fraud
Carjacking

Long-Term Consequences of a Theft Conviction in Florida

Several mitigating and aggravating factors come into play when determining the punishment of a theft-related crime conviction. Additionally, there are long-term consequences besides incarceration, probation, and other statutory losses.

There is a strong possibility that you will also suffer the following if convicted:

Loss of employment
Loss of future professional opportunities
Loss of client or business accounts
Loss of academic scholarships
Loss of trust within close relationships
Suspension of driver’s license
Public scrutiny
Denial of an application for US citizenship or Green Card

These consequences and statutory losses make working with our experienced criminal defense attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett essential.

Get Ready to Protect Your Rights in Florida

There is a wide array of reasons why a false allegation of theft can occur. You should immediately speak with an attorney if charged with theft. Your attorney will address the matter and try to de-escalate the situation before the prosecution makes a formal filing decision on the case.

For instance, you may be accused of shoplifting by mistakenly taking an item when you were not paying attention. Even if the police officers understand the situation and think you mistakenly took the item, they may not hesitate to arrest you.

However, an attorney may help you convince the police officers and state attorney’s office that you are an upstanding citizen and that it was an honest mistake. The skilled defense attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett have helped several victims by convincing the state attorney’s office that they should not bring a case forward.

Our Tenacious and Proven Criminal Defense Attorneys can Fight Your Theft Charges in Florida

The dependable criminal defense attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett are determined to uphold your rights if you have been charged with a petty or grand theft crime in Florida. Our skilled and resourceful lawyers will utilize their 125 years of collective experience to your advantage in the court. To schedule your free case review with our lawyers today, call us at (727) 306-0273 or contact us online.