If you are convicted of a theft or property offense in Orlando, Florida, you may face severe consequences and repercussions. Depending on the violation you are charged with, you could face jail time, fines, probation, loss of educational or employment opportunities, driver’s license suspension, and public embarrassment. Even a conviction for petit theft in Florida can carry up to 60 days in jail plus fines. A few of the most common Orlando theft and property offenses are:
Shoplifting / Retail Theft
Petit Theft
Grand Theft
Dealing in Stolen Property
Burglary
Breaking and Entering
Vandalism
Theft is defined under Florida Statute § 812.014 as the knowing acquirement or use of the property of another person with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the other person of the items. There are varying degrees of theft, which hinge on the value and type of the items stolen along with the surrounding circumstances of the larceny. Grand theft is treated as serious offense in Florida by law enforcement and state prosecutors.
If you have been charged with shoplifting, you could face potentially harsh penalties, including criminal punishments and consequences that can affect your reputation and personal life. For example, many employers require an applicant to disclose if they were convicted of retail theft, as the offense is considered a crime of dishonesty. This disclosure must be made even if the offense was a simple misdemeanor, or the amount of the theft was an insignificant amount. Additional penalties for shoplifting or retail theft can result in jail or prison terms, fines, driver’s license suspension, civil penalties and restitution for the amount of the property stolen.
Other terms commonly associated with retail theft can be petit theft, petty theft, grand theft or shoplifting.
Petit means small. Sometimes, we think small things don’t warrant much concern. A petit theft may seem like a small nuisance. But it has grave consequences for anyone convicted. There may be expensive fines, and even jail time. On top of the legal penalties, a person convicted of petit theft will have a criminal record that shows he or she is a thief, and not someone to be trusted. If you’re facing petit theft charges, you should fight them. Your best bet to do that successfully is to have an experienced legal advocate on your side.
Burglary in Florida can either be burglary of a dwelling, burglary of a structure or burglary of a conveyance. A dwelling is defined in the Florida Statutes § 810.011 as a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, permanent or temporary building or conveyance, or mobile building or conveyance that has a roof and is designed to be occupied at night for lodging purposes. A structure under Fla. Stat. § 810.011 is defined as a building of any kind, including temporary or permanent buildings that have a roof. A conveyance is defined in Fla. Stat. § 810.011 as any motor vehicle, ship, vessel, railroad car, trailer, aircraft or sleeping car. Burglary offenses are often associated with robbery, theft or breaking and entering, but all have different definitions and penalties under the Florida Statutes.
A conviction for theft or property charges in Florida can range from simple misdemeanors to felony charges that can incur hefty fines and prison times, in addition to other penalties that can include civil infractions, driver’s license suspensions, and/or supplemental fines for theft crimes depending on the amount of the stolen property.
If you have been charged with a theft or property violation in Orlando, Florida and the surrounding areas, contact the law office of Hale, Hale & Jacobson. The attorneys at Hale, Hale & Jacobson are experienced in theft and property crime defense, and will make every effort to help you avoid serious punishments that may arise from your theft or property violation.