Tampa Theft Lawyer

If you’ve been accused of theft, you may need to fight back to get your charges reduced or dropped. Your penalties can be severe, so reach out to a lawyer in Tampa for help with your case.

Dealing with an arrest or a warrant for theft can leave you in a difficult place with many, many questions. Criminal charges can haunt you for years after the case, even if your charges are reduced or dismissed. Unfortunately, if you fight back alone, you might struggle to prove you’re not guilty.

That’s why you need a criminal defense lawyer from Hersem Law. A Tampa theft lawyer can help you review the circumstances of your case and help you build the best defense for your case.

Types of Theft Charges

First, understanding what you’re being charged with is important. Theft has many levels of severity, which can affect the penalties for your case. Typically, though, all theft charges include the intent to deprive a person of their property. The defendant is being accused of knowingly taking property that belonged to someone else.

The differences come down to how much that property was worth. Theft charges are sorted into degrees under either petty theft or grand theft. Petty theft covers anything under $300, and second-degree petty theft covers theft of less than $100. Petty theft has a maximum jail sentence of one year, with a $1,000 fine at most.

Grand theft is more serious, covering theft or more than $300 or any of the following property:

• Traffic signs
• Commercial livestock
• Firearms
• Motor vehicles
• Controlled substances

The penalties may be more serious as well. If you’re charged with first-degree grand theft, you could be facing up to thirty years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

Defenses against Theft Accusations

If you’ve been accused of theft, you’ll need to build a strong defense and do what’s possible to avoid the resulting penalties. If you don’t, you could be paying for your conviction for some time after the conviction.

In some cases, for example, you might dispute the idea that you had the intent to steal. It might be that you believed in good faith that you had access to or ownership of the property.

For example, you may have believed that someone gave you access to their firearms. However, you were arrested, or a warrant was issued for your arrest, because the guns were reported stolen. Because you believed within reason that you were given access to the guns, your charges may be dropped.

Fight Back against Theft Charges with a Tampa Lawyer

It’s unfortunate, but dealing with theft charges isn’t easy. These accusations are hefty, and a felony on your record may be devastating for your future. You’ll need to do what you can to protect yourself.

Luckily, a lawyer from Hersem Law can help you recover. You’ll need a strong defense against Tampa theft charges, and your lawyer can help with that, starting with a free strategy session. We’ll discuss your case and help you create the defense you need.

Ready to get started? Your Tampa theft lawyer is just a call or click away. To begin, reach out to us by calling 813-251-7291, or you can fill out the online form below to start the conversation.