THEFT

A theft conviction can be destructive: whether you are charged with a misdemeanor petit theft (under $300) or felony grand theft (over $300), your career, your future, and your freedom could be in jeopardy.

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To avoid a conviction for a theft crime, contact a Ft Lauderdale theft lawyer like David J Sobel. A conviction for theft could mean:

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Felony Grand Theft is a Felony of the 3rd Degree punishable by up to 5 years in Florida State Prison and $5,000.00 fine.

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Petit Theft can either be charged as a 1st Degree Misdemeanor punishable by 364 days in the county jail and a $1,000.00 fine or as a 2nd Degree Misdemeanor punishable by 60 days in the county jail and a $500.00 fine.

 

What does a person accused of petty theft do in order to keep the charge from appearing on his or her permanent record? The first thing that should be done is the individual must retain legal counsel to assist them.

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Intent and knowledge play a large role in defense against a theft-related crime. You may not even be aware that you are in possession of stolen property until it is too late. Perhaps desperate circumstances pushed you to act irrationally. There are many defenses to theft crimes; however, they will not be heard without the assistance of a trained and experienced Fort Lauderdale theft defense attorney.

The bottom line is that being arrested for theft does not have to mean you will have a criminal conviction, be incarcerated or even have to serve a probation sentence. An experienced Fort Lauderdale theft attorney can sometimes make the difference between freedom and incarceration.