When someone eats food before paying for it at Key Food Supermarket, wears a cardigan at Bealls out of the store after removing the tags, or switches a price tag on an antique statue at Renningers, Florida calls these scenarios “shoplifting.” Children might help themselves to candy and teens sometimes shoplift on a dare. The severity of the crime depends on the value of the merchandise and if there are prior offenses. If a store employee detains you and a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrests you, it is imperative to get help mitigating the charges.
An arrest is not a conviction, and our skilled theft attorneys are ready to help you through the legal process by negotiating with the prosecutor for a reduced sentence or dismissal. In the American justice system, you are entitled to present your side and offer a defense to the charges. We believe in second chances, and a Lake County shoplifting lawyer is waiting for your call.
In Florida, shoplifting is charged under the umbrella of theft crimes and is known as retail theft. You must intend to deprive a shop owner of money or the full value of property and intend to keep it, either permanently or temporarily. This means the element of intent can be disputed if you absent-mindedly forget to move an item from the bottom of your shopping cart and walk out without paying. Some examples of shoplifting include:
Judges can impose jail time, fines, and community service for convictions. You may not have considered other ramifications, such as the embarrassment to your family and the difficulty you will have securing a job, housing, or a loan. You are entitled to high-quality advocacy after an arrest for retail theft, and our Lake County attorneys are proud to provide it, including the best outcome for your situation.
Yes, people can be arrested for stealing some snacks from the local Wawa. If merchandise is worth less than $100, the charge in Florida is a second-degree misdemeanor. Petit theft is a first-degree misdemeanor for theft of merchandise worth between $100 and $300.
An earlier theft conviction can turn a second-degree misdemeanor into a first-degree one, for which the judge can sentence you to up to a year in jail, as well as a fine of up to $1,000, according to Florida Statutes § 775.083. Judges at their discretion can order community service and suspend your driver’s license for up to six months if it is a first offense, and one year for a second offense.
Misdemeanor shoplifting charges morph into a third-degree felony for grand theft if the current charge is your third theft charge, or the merchandise at issue is worth more than $300, up to $5,000.
Your story is uniquely yours, and the defense we present takes in every aspect that can exonerate you or mitigate charges and punishment. Remember, the prosecutor has a high burden of proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, and one seed of doubt means the jury should exonerate you. Perhaps you have an alibi that we will explore. Maybe it was not you at all, and you were misidentified. You may not have intended to shoplift and were merely not paying attention when you walked out the door.
Law enforcement may search you illegally, violating your constitutional rights. Our attorneys are staunch defenders of your rights after a Lake County arrest for shoplifting.
All humans make mistakes, and shoplifting does not have to define who you are and who you can become. Our criminal attorneys can direct our invaluable experience toward negotiating a favorable outcome or defending you at trial, planting seeds of doubt in a jury. We staunchly protect your rights.
If a Lake County law enforcement officer arrests you and you are charged with a retail theft crime, do not jeopardize your future by merely hoping for the best. Call us. You need a Lake County shoplifting lawyer to advocate for you.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
