Tampa Bay – Brandon Florida Theft Attorney
Tampa Bay – Brandon Florida Theft Criminal Defense Lawyer
Have you been charged with theft in Tampa Bay? A criminal defense lawyer from The Lawler Firm can help.
Pursuant to Florida Statute 812.014, “A person commits theft if he or she knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently: (a) Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property; or (b) Appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property.”
Theft occurs even if the property was “borrowed” without permission and returned. Simply being in possession of recently stolen property gives an inference that the person knew it was stolen and can be the basis for a theft charge.
Theft charges are punished based on the value and type of the stolen property. Also subsequent convictions for theft can raise the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony.
In addition to these penalties, a theft conviction could also result in a suspension of your drivers license. The court can also impose a fine up to twice the value of the stolen property, and the victim may pursue damages in civil court.
Theft cases can be defended in many ways depending on the particular circumstances of your case. In some cases there may be no knowledge that the property was actually stolen, or you may have thought the property was abandoned. A Tampa Bay theft defense attorney can discuss your options based on the facts of your case.
If you are facing theft charges, call The Lawler Firm now for a free no obligation consultation. You will speak to your actual theft criminal defense attorney who will meet with you, even on evenings and weekends. Call Now (813) 413-8828