Fort Worth Theft Lawyer

By Jeff Kennedy

Fort Worth Theft Crimes Lawyer

An accusation of stealing someone’s property can ruin your future and land you in prison. Clear your name with help from a Fort Worth theft attorney.

It can be surprisingly easy to get charged with theft in Texas. Some cases are based on a misunderstanding between the parties involved, while others involve mistaken accusations.

Unfortunately, proving your innocence or getting the charge dismissed can be a difficult undertaking, and you can’t expect the prosecutor or judge to have any sympathy for your situation—even if the case against you is blatantly flawed.

Beating charges for stealing requires experienced legal counsel, which is why it’s a wise decision to work with a Fort Worth theft lawyer from the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. Whether you’ve been accused of stealing personal property or of shoplifting, we can develop a defense that is comprehensive and convincing.

What Will Happen If I Was Charged With Theft in Fort Worth Texas?

Theft is a serious crime to be charged with, and state law recognizes a number of ways in which it can occur. The most common form involves one person intentionally taking the personal property of another. If violence or threats were involved, this could instead be charged as robbery.

It’s also possible to be charged with theft if you purchase property that you know to be stolen. This can be difficult for the prosecution to prove and often involves circumstantial evidence, however.

It’s even possible to be charged with theft if you don’t perform an action that proves a piece of property you received or purchased wasn’t stolen. This is usually necessary in cases where the property in question is of dubious provenance, such as a gun with filed-off serial numbers.

What Are The Penalties for Theft and Shoplifting in Fort Worth?

Legal penalties for theft vary widely and depend on what the value of the alleged stolen property is. This valuation is based on what’s considered to be the “fair market value,” which might be difficult to establish.

When the fair market value isn’t clear, the punishment you face will instead be based on what it costs your accuser to replace the property in question.

Your Fort Worth theft lawyer can determine what punishments you face, but these are the general guidelines followed by Texas:

  • Property Worth $99 or Less –Class C misdemeanor, fine up to $500
  • Property Worth $100 to $749 –Class B misdemeanor, jail sentence up to 180 days, fine up to $2,000
  • Property Worth $750 to $2,499 –Class A misdemeanor, jail sentence up to one year, fine up to $4,000
  • Property Worth $2,500 to $29,999 –State jail felony, jail sentence between 180 days and two years, fine up to $10,000
  • Property Worth $30,000 to $149,999 –Third-degree felony, prison sentence between two and ten years, fine up to $10,000
  • Property Worth $150,000 to $299,999 –Second-degree felony, prison sentence between two and twenty years, fine up to $10,000
  • Property Worth $300,000 or More –First-degree felony, prison sentence between five and ninety-nine years, fine up to $10,000

Any prior convictions for theft can also increase the severity of your potential sentence. For example, one prior theft conviction can increase a charge that would normally be prosecuted as a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor instead.

What Are The Laws For Shop Lifting in Fort Worth?

Shoplifting, sometimes called “retail theft,” can be surprisingly easy to get charged with. Shoplifting charges can be pressed even if you simply forgot to pay for something. It might even be that a clerk made an error in failing to ring something up or price something correctly—and you wound up with a criminal charge!

In general, the penalties for shoplifting follow the same formula as those for normal theft. Shoplifting charges are different, however, in that state law allows the retailer accusing you to recover their costs through a civil penalty.

For adults, the retailer can pursue up to $1,000 in damages from you. If your child gets convicted of shoplifting, then the retailer has the right to pursue up to $5,000 in damages.

These are steep prices to pay for what could easily be a misunderstanding or honest mistake. Working with a Fort Worth shoplifting lawyer from our firm will give you the best chance for avoiding these penalties.

Misdemeanor Theft Charges in Fort Worth & Tarrant County

A misdemeanor is not minor, and it will effect you in the future if not handled with care. Any criminal record with theft charges will make it hard for you to look for a job, amongst other reasons that cause your criminal record to be pulled. If you have been charged with a theft crime in Tarrant County , you need an attorney who has experience working in the Crimianl justice system in Tarrant County. 

For first time offenders there is a possibility you can get into the Tarrant County diversion program. One program called the deferred prosecution program (DPP) will allow a misdemeanor theft charge to be dismissed as early as 4 months from the date of admission. This is why an attorney is vital, because they know the system and the options available, and usually the prosecutor and judge. 

You can also get your theft charges expunged if the right steps are taken. If you do not hire an attorney, a future expunction might be out of the picture all together. 

Felony Theft Charge in Tarrant County & Fort Worth

Felony theft in Fort Worth is a serious crime and it is vital for you to find an attorney with experience. You are outright facing jail time for your charge, and ever felony theft case has to be presented to the grand jury for indictment. You need an attorney who will take advantage of this process, and you do not want to do this with a court appointed attorney who will go through the motions. 

The grand jury job is to find the cases that have inadequate evidence, however if you do not have the right defense, your case will not be presented properly to the courts and only one side of your case will be heard. 

When your case goes to grand jury there are three options. First being keep the case as a felony, second is to lower it to a misdemeanor, and third no bill the case. 

What Type Of Defense Should I Expect From An Experienced Theft Attorney?

An experienced attorney will discuss multiple points of defense with you, and these include value of the stolen item, was the owners consent given, was the property in your possession really theft, and did you deprive the owner of property intentionally. 

If your attorney does not discuss these options with you, you are working with someone who does not have experience working on theft charges. Hire an attorney like Jeff C. Kennedy who will dig through every detail of your case and look for holes in the case. 

Do I Need An Attorney For My Theft Crime?

Whether your theft charge is a misdemeanor or a felony, you don’t want to make the mistake of foregoing legal representation or settling for the public defender. Only an experienced theft attorney can provide you with the personal attention and support your case needs in order to win a dismissal or acquittal.

As mentioned, theft and shoplifting accusations often arise from simple mistakes and miscommunications. If you didn’t intend to steal the property, we can help you prove it.

In some cases, surveillance footage might work in your favor. In others, the footage might be of such poor resolution that it fails to adequately prove the prosecution’s case.

In situations where you’re accused of failing to take an action that proves you didn’t knowingly accept stolen property, we can help you demonstrate the property’s origin or prove how the seller tricked you into believing that the property’s origin wasn’t in doubt.

Connect with a Shoplifting Attorney in Fort Worth

The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy has handled many theft cases, from retail theft and shop lifting to felony theft. We have a history of helping our clients defeat their accusations. We work on collecting the evidence needed to built a powerful case to clear your name. No matter how strong the case is against you, we fight to deliver the most optimal results available to you. Call us today for a free consultation about your theft charge. 

And if you do win an acquittal or dismissal, we can also help you with getting the record of the theft arrest expunged from your record. Criminal records are publicly available information, so it’s critical to make certain that yours is as clean as possible.

Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Fort Worth theft lawyer. To get started, just complete the form below or call us at 817-605-1010.

WHAT DO OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY?

Jeff C. Kennedy was the light of hope at the end of very dark storm. He was not only able to defend my case swiftly, but had the alleged charges dismissed completely. His calm and empathetic demeanor offered emotional succor to myself and those I care about most. My children and I are eternally grateful for his excellent service and I hereby recommend Jeff C. Kennedy without reservation.

Kishta

Jeff Kennedy truly cares. He and his staff kept me informed all the way throughout my case and provided me with all my options and the potential outcomes for my case. When the day finally arrived to resolve my case, Jeff was able to negotiate a reduction to a lesser charge. He was well prepared and coordinated everything perfectly. Jeff is not only a good lawyer, but a good man.

N.C.L.

I hired Mr. Jeff Kennedy to handle a DWI charge. From day one, I knew I had picked the right attorney. Jeff always took the time to answer any of my questions, treated me very professionally, and truly cared about my case. I have never been in any kind of trouble before and I was very nervous about the thought of going to trial. Jeff thoroughly explained the entire process to me and made me feel at ease. Jeff took my case to trial and the jury found me NOT GUILTY!

P.T.S.

Jeff Kennedy is a professional, intelligent, easy-to-talk-to lawyer with an excellent understanding of how the system works. Jeff was able to get my twice the legal limit BAC thrown out and he kept me from having an interlock device put on my car. This has been my only big mistake in life so far (hopefully the last) and I am glad he was there to walk me through it. You will not regret hiring him.

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