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Theft

Theft Charges

 

Theft allegations are serious and should be handled by an attorney who is as serious as the charge levied against you are.

Allegations of theft can impact your freedom, your family and your career. Depending on what you have been charged with or alleged to have stolen the form of punishment can range drastically. It also can depend on a lot of other circumstances like how much are you alleged to have stolen, what kind of product are you alleged to have stolen, and who, what and where you are alleged to have stolen it from.

Forms of Theft

Most people share the common misconception that theft is theft and that there are really no variances or differences in what type of product is being stolen or how it is being stolen. To the average person, someone being pickpocketed and someone stealing a car or stealing a petroleum product are the same thing. They’re not. In Texas, charges for theft vary greatly depending on the circumstances surrounding the theft, what is being stolen, and how much of it is being stolen.

Below is  a list of theft crimes in Texas:

Organiseed Theft

  • Organized Retail Theft
  • Cargo Theft
  • Theft of Petroleum Products
  • Possession, Manufacture or Distribution of Certain Instruments Used to Commit Retail Theft

Service Theft

  • Theft of Service: By deception, threat, or false token
  • Theft of Service: By diverting services
  • Theft of Services: Rental-agreement property
  • Theft of Services: Agrees to Provide Compensation

Ordinary Theft

  • Appropriates without owner’s consent
  • Appropriates stolen property
  • Appropriates property in custody of law enforcement
  • Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle

White-Collar Theft

  • Theft of Trade Secrets
  • Unauthorized Acquisition or Transfer of Certain Financial Information

Penalties for Theft

Basic statutory penalties for misdemeanor and felony offenses are defined in Chapter 12 of the Texas Penal Code. However, these punishments can vary, depending on whether the victim was disabled or elderly, whether a weapon was used during the commission of the offense, the value of the property, and whether the alleged offender has any previous criminal convictions.

  • A conviction for a Class C misdemeanor theft offense can result in a fine up to $500.
  • A conviction for a Class B misdemeanor theft offense can result in a jail sentence up to 180 days and/or fine up to $2,000.
  • A conviction for a Class A misdemeanor theft offense can result in a jail sentence up to one year and/or fine up to $4,000.
  • A conviction for a state jail felony theft offense can result in a jail sentence from 180 days to two years and/or a fine up to $10,000.
  • A conviction for a felony of the third-degree theft offense can result in a prison sentence ranging from two to five years and/or a fine up to $10,000.
  • A conviction for a felony of the second-degree theft offense can result in a prison sentence from two to 20 years and/or a fine up to $10,000.
  • A conviction for a felony of the first-degree theft offense can result in a prison sentence ranging from five years to 99 years or life imprisonment and/or a fine up to $10,000.

For an easy to read graph on the varying types of penalties in Texas please click on our Penalties page.

No matter what type of charge has been levied against you, it is always recommended that you hire an attorney as soon as possible. Don’t wait. For a FREE consultation call us at 214-342-8900