If a store owner has accused you of shoplifting, you may have no idea what to expect, and your potential plans for the future may be at risk. Instead of worrying about the unknown, you may find it more helpful to seek professional guidance on what you can expect.
Speak with one of our aggressive theft attorneys at Leifert & Leifert to learn more about the related laws and how the criminal process works. With the help of a Hollywood shoplifting lawyer, you may be able to develop a strategy to protect yourself from a potential conviction.
Shoplifting Laws in Hollywood
Shoplifting, also known as retail theft, is defined as the act of stealing goods from a store. Specifically, as a Hollywood shoplifting attorney could affirm, this offense may include any of the following acts:
- Taking anything of value from a retail store
- Changing or removing a price tag from merchandise
- Moving a good into another container
- Taking a shopping cart
Whenever a person performs any of the acts mentioned above, the actor must also have an intent to deprive the shop owner of having, using, benefiting or received the full retail value of the good, as stated in Florida Statutes §12.015. Florida state law prosecutes this charge on the value of the property at issue, so there are different degrees of retail theft in Hollywood.
Legal Detainment for Shoplifting
A merchant may detain a person if they have probable cause to believe that person committed shoplifting. The detainment must be reasonable in manner and time and done with the intent of recovering the stolen goods or pressing charges against the suspect.
Petit & Grand Shoplifting
The lowest form of retail theft is stealing goods worth less than $100. This may be considered second-degree petit theft, and the maximum penalty is up to 60 days in jail and a fine of $500.
First-degree petit larceny involves goods worth $100 or less than $300. The Court may also charge a second offender who took products worth less than $100 with first-degree petit theft. The punishments associated with this offense include up to one year in jail and a fine of no more than $1,000.
If the goods at issue are worth between $300 and $20,000, the offense would be considered third-degree grand theft punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. It may alternatively be considered second-degree grand theft if the goods were worth between $20,000 and $100,000, for which a convicted person could face jail time of up to 15 years and pay a fine of up to $10,000.
Finally, first-degree grand theft involves goods worth $100,000 or more, with an associated punishment of up to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. In any of these situations, representation from a season shoplifting lawyer in Hollywood could be key to improving a defendant’s future prospects. Our dedicated defense lawyers at Leifert & Leifert could advocate on your behalf if you are facing shoplifting penalties.
Schedule a Meeting with a Hollywood Shoplifting Attorney
It can be difficult to know what to do following a shoplifting charge, but letting this situation go unanswered could result in an expensive fine and jail sentence. Instead, take action to protect yourself by seeking out a qualified attorney’s assistance.
A knowledgeable and skilled Hollywood shoplifting lawyer may be able to help you understand your circumstances and determine how you could pursue a positive outcome to your case. Reach out to one of our passionate attorneys at Leifert & Leifert today.