Seminole County Theft Crimes Lawyers
Knowledgeable Criminal Defense in Longwood, Orange, & Volusia Counties
Theft involves taking someone else’s property without their consent and intending to deprive them of it permanently. With the Seminole County criminal defense lawyers at The Law Office of David A. Webster, P.A., you can get informative legal services and diligent representation for a variety of theft crime charges.
Contact us at 407-862-9222 today to learn more.
Types of Theft Crimes & Penalties
The state of Florida recognizes various types and degrees of theft crimes. Categories often depend on factors including the value and the type of property that was seized. Our Seminole County criminal defense attorneys have represented hundreds of clients in theft crime cases and can provide diligent defense for you in court.
Common types of theft crimes include:
- Petit (or petty) theft
- Grand theft
- Stealing
- Theft of state funds
- Larceny
- Conversion
- Misappropriation
Under Florida law, petit theft involves property under $300 and generally counts as a second degree misdemeanor. Penalties for petit theft often include jail time, restitution, probation, and community service. If the defendant is a repeat offender, however, the court may order penalties for a first degree misdemeanor, including a one year prison sentence and up to $1,000 fines. Grand theft is often treated as a felony offense and may involve prison sentences of five to 25 years and fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
Is Stealing a Firearm a Felony In Florida?
Stealing a firearm is a felony in Florida, no matter the value of the firearm. The theft of a firearms is usually accompanied with a burglary charge. Since firearms are usually kept inside of homes, cars, thefts would have to break into them which will lead to burglary charges to accompany theft of firearms charges.
Building a Defense for Theft Crimes
One defense strategy for theft crimes is to prove that the property owner gave consent to the defendant. Another defense strategy involves proving that a good faith belief of the right to ownership of the property existed between the defendant and the property owner, or that the defendant was suffering from involuntary intoxication. For a variety of situations, our team of Seminole County criminal defense lawyers can examine the evidence and discuss your options for pursuing a beneficial solution.