Intentionally taking another individual's personal property without permission or consent, and with the intent to either keep or sell the property for your own benefit, thus permanently depriving the original owner of the property is theft. The theft of a property with a monetary value of less than $500 will be charged as petty theft while the theft of a property valued at more than $500 will be charged as grand theft. Petty theft takes many different forms, one of the most common being shoplifting. To charge an individual with petty theft it is necessary to prove the victim did in fact own the property in question, that he or she did not give consent for the property to be permanently taken, and that the alleged offender did intend to keep the property. If an individual is convicted of petty theft the penalties he or she may face will depend upon prior criminal history, value of the property and various other factors. According to state codes the maximum penalty for a petty theft case is 1-year in jail and $2,500 in fines.
If you have been arrested for petty theft in the Knoxville area, hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer to defend you could help you to avoid having charges filed against you, and could keep you out of jail. Robert R. Kurtz, Attorney at Law has years of experience defending those who have been accused of petty theft, theft and other criminal charges. We are a boutique criminal law firm that takes pride in providing our clients with the one-on-one, personalized service. We are well aware that many petty theft cases are based on a simple misunderstanding or error, and the skill with which your case is managed can make a significant difference in the outcome. To find out more about what we can do for you, call our firm and schedule to meet with a Knoxville criminal defense lawyer today.