Petit Theft Charge Defense

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

What is Petit Theft?

According to Florida Criminal Statute §812.014, theft occurs when an individual knowingly and intentionally obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use the property of another with the intent of either temporarily or permanently depriving the rightful owner of the property to posses, use or benefit from the property. It is also considered theft if the individual who illegally confiscated the property did so to appropriate the property for their own personal or commercial, or the use and benefit of any other unauthorized person or persons. Petit Theft involves property or assets less than $300.00 in value.

What is the Maximum Petit 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 1 years incarceration and a $1,000 fine.

Burden of Proof for a Petit Theft Conviction

In order for the prosecution to obtain a conviction for petit 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 petit 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 petit 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 petit 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 petit theft charge issues, as well as other misdemeanor and felony criminal defenserelated legal issues.

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