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Charged with any type of theft crime? Attorneys at Katz & Phillips, P.A. are ready to help. We can construct a defense for you that we can use to try to get an acquittal or have the charges against you dropped or possibly reduced so you incur fewer penalties.
We’ve successfully defended countless people just like you who were faced with a conviction for a theft crime. Call us today at (321) 332-6884 for a consultation so we can discuss how to best approach your problem.
“Theft” is actually a blanket term that includes several different crimes:
The stakes are high if you’re convicted of one of these crimes. Even misdemeanors carry serious charges that can leave you with a criminal record, which in turn can make it harder for you to find a job, a place to live, and more.
In Florida, the crime of burglary is as much about your intentions as it is about where you committed the offense and what you may have taken or done while you were there. You open yourself up to a burglary charge whenever you enter a building or vehicle that’s not yours with the intention of breaking the law.
If you have anything on you at the time that qualifies as a weapon, the charge can jump to a first-degree felony. If you injure another person while you’re there, this is also a first-degree felony.
Likewise, if you cause any damage or harm to the premises, this is also a first-degree felony charge in the state of Florida. However, the charge can quickly be a second-degree felony if you entered or stayed in an occupied or unoccupied dwelling, or an occupied structure or other building.
There is a huge difference between the penalties incurred by a first-degree felony charge and a third-degree felony charge. You need an attorney who can create a strong defense for you and maximize this difference to your benefit.
Our legal team has handled a wide range of burglary cases with all sorts of extenuating circumstances. Don’t accept a greater penalty than you deserve. Call the attorneys at Katz & Phillips, P.A. today so we can get to work on your case and make sure your punishment is just.
Under Florida law, carjacking is defined as taking control of someone’s vehicle without their consent. You will face a felony charge if you are convicted of carjacking. Carjacking is classified as a robbery offense, meaning you could face life in prison if you had a weapon on you at the time.
Even if you didn’t have a weapon on you at the time of the incident, you could still be looking at up to 30 years of incarceration.
In a court of law, the pivotal point may come down to whether or not the owner felt they were in danger. If the owner gave up their car because they thought you might hurt them if they didn’t, this is carjacking.
But what if you thought you had their consent? What if it was an emergency, a life-or-death situation, and you needed a vehicle? Sometimes there may be extenuating circumstances and mitigating factors.
You need a qualified and experienced criminal defense attorney to make sense of the particular factors involved in your case and bring them to the attention of the court. A qualified attorney can make sure you have a parole hearing sooner rather than later.
In the state of Florida, employee theft is generally considered a “white collar crime,” which means it’s a crime committed by someone in a professional position or in a position of trust.
Unfortunately, because of stereotypes surrounding “white collar criminals,” judges and prosecutors tend to be harsh when it comes to dealing with cases of employee theft in Orlando.
Further, diversionary programs that allow you to avoid a permanent record of your criminal conviction often aren’t available when you’ve been accused of employee theft. So it’s crucial to retain a knowledgeable attorney like the ones you will find at Katz & Phillips, P.A. to help you achieve a desirable outcome.
The state of Florida is particularly tough on individuals charged with robbery. Robbery covers a wide range of acts – it can mean anything from snatching money from someone’s hand to taking their vehicle. Under the law, when you take something from someone that rightfully belongs to them, it is considered theft.
When you enter a building to take someone’s property, it’s considered burglary. When you take something from someone by force or threat, the act becomes considered robbery. Robbery is the most serious offense because it involves threats and potential harm to another human being.
In Florida’s criminal code, shoplifting is referred to as “retail theft.” Code Section 812.015 provides details on the crime of shoplifting, which can include:
A defendant doesn’t have to be successful at stealing items to be charged with shoplifting. Concealing items to carry them away or making an attempt to take items from the store can result in a conviction. If convicted, the consequences are going to vary depending upon the dollar value of the goods allegedly taken.
The amount of money or goods that you stole, the method by which you stole it, and where you stole it from will play the biggest role in determining the charges that you’ll face and the defense you’ll need.
For example, if you stole property with a value greater than $100 but less than $750, then:
Penalties increase as the value of the stolen property increases.
| Value of the stolen property | Possible penalties |
| More than $300 but less than $20,000 |
|
| Between $20,000 and $100,000 |
|
| Over $100,000 |
|
If you’ve been charged with one of these offenses, you need an advocate on your side, an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney who can work through the factors of your case and use them to make a difference.
In Orlando, your advocate is Katz & Phillips, P.A. Call us at (321) 332-6884 to schedule your consultation.
