Can I Be Charged with a Felony If I Was Arrested for Theft Valuing over $300?

According to Broward Criminal Defense Lawyer William Moore, Under Florida law, theft is a property crime where one person intentionally deprives the owner of the possession and use of their property either temporarily or permanently. Florida distinguishes between petit theft and grand theft by assessing the value of the property taken. When something worth $300 or less is stolen then it is labeled a petit theft and treated as a misdemeanor. However, if you are arrested for theft of over $300 then you face a felony charge.

More information can be obtained by speaking with our Shoplifting Lawyers in Broward or get answers in less than 30 minutes by completing our Shoplifitng Arrest Evaluation Form.

Theft between $300 and $20,000 qualifies as a felony of the third degree and you face imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of $5,000. If you are accused of theft between $20,000 and $100,000 you can be charged with grand theft of the second degree. If convicted you face imprisonment of up to fifteen years and a fine of $10,000. If you are accused of theft of property worth more than $100,000 you will be charged of grand theft of the first degree. If convicted you face imprisonment of up to 30 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

If you are arrested for theft of over $300, you face a felony charge and conviction can lead to a long prison term. In order to avoid these negative consequences you need to retain the services of an attorney who can work to either prove that you were innocent or prove that the value of the property stolen was less than $300. If the lawyer can prove that you are innocent you can walk away without a conviction. Otherwise, if the lawyer is able to prove that the value of the stolen item was less than $300, you only face conviction for a misdemeanor instead of a felony conviction.

If you have questions about your case contact our Broward County Theft Lawyers and schedule a free case evaluation.