Grand Theft Charge Defense


Polk County Florida Criminal Defense Firm providing Criminal Grand Theft Defense Attorney – Lawyer Legal Services in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Polk County, and the surrounding Central Florida area.


What is Grand Theft?

According to Florida Criminal Statute §812.014, the offense of grand theft occurs when a person knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property, and/or appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property. In order to be charged as grand theft the value of the property or assets must be greater than $300.00.

Maximum Grand Theft Conviction Penalty

Depending upon the circumstances of the theft and evidence collected grand theft may be charged as a third degree felony all the way up to a first degree felony which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years incarceration and a $15,000 fine.

Burden of Proof for a Grand Theft Conviction

In order for the prosecution to obtain a conviction for grand theft, proof of a taking with the intent to steal must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If your defense attorney can show that you had a good faith belief in the right to the property it may warrant the charges to be dropped or dismissed. Additionally, the value of the property must meet the value standards of at least $300.00 at the time the property was allegedly stolen. This means something like a DVD player bought for $350.00 five years ago may be argued that depreciation of a five year old DVD player is not valued at the limit of $300.00 today, thus the charges should be reduced to petit theft, which carries a lesser conviction penalty. For more information regarding the burden of proof relating to grand theft charges and potential defense strategies that may be available to you, contact our office by calling 863.937.9100.

If a dismissal of your grand theft charge is not possible, we will ensure you are fully aware of your legal options going forward such negotiating for a plea deal, or in the case of a trial ensure you are fully aware of every aspect regarding defense strategies that may best serve in the defense of the charges against you.

Each grand theft defense attorney, lawyer, and staff member in our law firm are ready to assist you in even the most difficult of legal challenges you may be facing. We will aggressively represent your legal needs, interests, and goals regarding your criminal grand theft charge issues, as well as other misdemeanor and felony criminal defense related legal issues.

If you must address grand theft defense issues in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Polk County, or the surrounding Central Florida area, speak to an experienced grand theft defense attorney – lawyer at Carroll Law Group, P.L. today by calling 863.937.9100.

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