Theft is a very broad topic, which can refer to a wide range of crimes including writing bad checks, shoplifting, purse snatching, possessing stolen goods, stealing copper, stealing services, etc.
The degree of offense can range from a Class C Misdemeanor all the way to a First Degree Felony, depending on the value of what was stolen. Regardless of the degree of the charge, a theft conviction can have far-reaching and unforeseen consequences for you.
Don't settle for a conviction; contact our Woodlands Theft Lawyer that can help you.
Having a theft conviction can affect your ability to get employment and financial aid for college. Theft is a crime of “moral turpitude”, which can affect a non-citizen's immigration status even if the charge is only a Class C Misdemeanor. Even if you do not believe accepting a conviction for theft will affect you now, it is a conviction that will stay with you for the rest of your life. With a theft charge, it is imperative that you not just take the easy way out and pay a fine to simply “get it over with”.
Each case has its own unique circumstances. To get your best possible outcome, it is imperative that you hire an attorney with the knowledge that comes with experience and the determination to push the prosecutor for that outcome. The following are some of the strategies that have been successful for us in the past:
- Questioning the reliability of the identification of the defendant as the one who actually committed the offense (when the person was not apprehended at the scene)
- Questioning whether the “theft” was intentional
- Proving that the valuation placed on the objects by the victim is unrealistic
- Claiming a “right” on the part of the defendant for taking the object
- Obtaining affidavits of third parties to show that our client was not involved in the theft