Waco Theft Lawyer

If you take something that doesn’t belong to you, you may suffer a theft crime accusation. It may seem obvious to warn against taking something that is not yours, but you would be surprised to learn how often theft crimes are committed.

Our seasoned criminal defense attorney knows this because he once was a prosecutor himself. It takes one to know one. In addition, attorney Craig Greening is a Board Certified specialist in Criminal Trial Law, meaning he brings the superior legal skills and competence your case relies upon.

The time to build your defense is now. To begin the process, arrange a free consultation with our Waco theft lawyers today.

State Theft Statutes

Theft crimes can involve property valued at less than 100 dollars or more than $100,000 and typically consist of the following acts:

• Shoplifting
• Grand theft
• Writing bad checks
• Burglary
• Robbery
• Larceny

A person commits theft if they unlawfully appropriate property with the intent to deprive the owner of the property. Appropriation of property is unlawful if:

• it is without the owner’s effective consent
• the property is stolen, and the defendant appropriates the property knowing it was stolen by another
• property in the custody of any law enforcement agency was explicitly represented by any law enforcement agent to the actor as being stolen and the actor appropriates the property believing it was stolen by another.

To learn more about state theft statutes, schedule a consultation with a Waco theft attorney today.

Theft Crime Penalties

Your legal consequences will depend on the value of the stolen item and the nature of the offense. They include:

• Class C misdemeanor if the value of the property stolen is less than $100
• Class B misdemeanor if:
  • the value of the property stolen is $100 or more but less than $750
  • the value of the property stolen is less than $100 and the defendant has previously been convicted of any grade of theft
  • the property stolen is a driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, or personal identification certificate issued by this state or another state
• Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property stolen is $750 or more but less than $2,500
• State jail felony if:
  • the value of the property stolen is $2,500 or more but less than $30,000
  • the property is less than 10 head of sheep, swine, or goats or any part thereof under the value of $30,000
  • the property is stolen from the person of another or from a human corpse or grave, including property that is a military grave marker
  • the property stolen is a firearm
  • the value of the property stolen is less than $2,500 and the defendant has been previously convicted two or more times of any grade of theft
  • the property stolen is an official ballot or official carrier envelope for an election; or
  • the value of the property stolen is less than $20,000 and is aluminum, bronze, copper or brass
• Third-degree felony if the value of the property stolen is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or the property is:
  • cattle, horses, or exotic livestock or exotic fowl stolen during a single transaction and having an aggregate value of less than $150,000
  • 10 or more head of sheep, swine, or goats stolen during a single transaction and having an aggregate value of less than $150,000
  • a controlled substance, having a value of less than $150,000
• Second-degree felony if:
  • the value of the property stolen is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000
  • the value of the property stolen is less than $300,000 and it is an automated teller machine or the contents or components of an automated teller machine
• First-degree felony if the value of the property stolen is $300,000 or more

A Waco lawyer could look into their client’s theft charges and explore potential defenses on their behalf.

Get in Touch With a Waco Theft Attorney Today

Fight your charges with our Waco theft lawyer at The Greening Law Group today! Time is of the essence, so you must use it wisely. Contact us to speak with our team as soon as possible.