What Are the Consequences of a Grant Theft Conviction?
If you have been charged with grand theft, a skilled lawyer can challenge the evidence against you during court proceedings. Grand theft convictions can result in extremely severe consequences, but there are several ways your criminal defense lawyer in Tampa with The Rickman Law Firm can weaken the prosecution’s case and potentially result in a more favorable outcome.
What Is Grand Theft?
Grand theft happens when someone steals property worth $750 or more. The more valuable the stolen property, the more serious the charge and potential consequences are:
- Property valued between $750 and $20,000 can result in a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
- Property valued between $20,000 and $100,000 is tried as a second-degree felony and is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
- Any property valued over $100,000 would be considered a first-degree felony and can be punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
How Can A Lawyer Challenge The Evidence?
Your Tampa grand theft lawyer with The Rickman Law Firm can use different strategies to challenge the evidence against you:
Illegal Search and Seizure
If the police didn’t follow the law when gathering evidence, your lawyer can argue that the evidence should be thrown out. In Florida, law enforcement must follow strict rules for searches, and if your rights were violated, any evidence they collected may be inadmissible.
Disputing Property Value
During trial proceedings, the prosecution must prove the value of the stolen property. If the value is overblown and overstated, your lawyer can work to challenge it. If successful, this strategy could reduce the charge from grand theft to a lesser charge, like petit theft, which usually results in lighter penalties.
Challenging Ownership
Another strategy your lawyer can utilize is to argue that you believed the property was yours or that you had permission to use it. If there’s uncertainty over who really owned the property, it could potentially weaken the prosecution’s case.
Questioning Witnesses
Witnesses might not always remember things accurately or could be biased. Your lawyer will cross-examine witnesses to find inconsistencies or mistakes in their testimony, and if applicable, it can help create doubt on the prosecution’s arguments.
Proving a Lack of Intent
To be convicted of grand theft, it must be proven that you had a deliberate intention to steal. If your grand theft lawyer in Tampa can show that you didn’t mean to take the property or believed you had a right to it, this could lead to the charges being reduced or dropped.
Get the Best Grand Theft Defense With The Rickman Law Firm
A grand theft charge does not need to result in a conviction, and a good defense lawyer can challenge the evidence in many ways. Your criminal defense lawyer in Tampa with The Rickman Law Firm will thoroughly assess the details and context of your case to create the most effective defense strategy possible.
Call our office at (813) 370-1185 or fill out our consultation form for your free case consultation.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.