Continue reading to learn the potential penalties for larceny and how an experienced Kaufman County, Texas theft lawyer of Harrell & Paulson, LLP can build a legal strategy that can best defend against your charges.
By Texas Law, What Is Larceny?
According to Texas law, larceny is a criminal act that involves the unlawful taking or theft of another person’s or business entity’s personal property. The courts take this as a serious offense, and will likely place fines and jail sentences, among other penalties, against you. Ultimately, you will receive a permanent criminal record, and this will hurt your future career opportunities and immigration status, among other things.
What Are the Potential Penalties for Larceny in The State of Texas?
Firstly, the Texas courts will determine which penalties will be applied to your larceny offense based on the following factors:
The value of the property stolen.
Whether you have a previous criminal record.
Whether you committed another offense in conjunction with larceny.
The overall circumstances of your criminal act.
With that being said, the potential penalties for larceny are generally close to the following:
Class C misdemeanor:
The stolen property was worth up to $100.
A fine of up to $500.
Class B misdemeanor:
The stolen property was worth anywhere between $100 to $750.
A fine of up to $2,000.
A jail sentence of up to 180 days.
Class A misdemeanor:
The stolen property was worth anywhere between $750 to $2,500.
A fine of up to $4,000.
A jail sentence of up to one year.
State jail felony:
The stolen property was worth anywhere between $2,500 to $30,000.
A fine of up to $10,000.
A jail sentence of anywhere between 180 days to two years.
Third-degree felony:
The stolen property was worth anywhere between $30,000 to $150,000.
A fine of up to $10,000.
A jail sentence of anywhere between two to 10 years.
Second-degree felony:
The stolen property was worth anywhere between $150,000 to $300,000.
A fine of up to $10,000.
A jail sentence of anywhere between two to 20 years.
First-degree felony:
The stolen property was worth more than $300,000.
A fine of up to $10,000.
A jail sentence of anywhere between five to 99 years.
Can I Possibly Defend Against My Larceny Charges in The State of Texas?
For one, if you were accused of shoplifting, you may be able to defend that you intended to pay for the item or did not realize you were stealing the item. Or, you may defend that you thought you had implicit permission to take the item.
Importantly, this all depends on the circumstances of your offense. We recommend that you connect with a skilled Kaufman County, Texas criminal defense lawyer today so that we can help you determine which legal defense is the best approach.
Contact Our Kaufman County Firm Today
For vigorous defenses for personal injury, criminal, divorce, or estate planning matters, contact Harrell & Paulson, LLP today to schedule your free case evaluation.
