Austin Theft Defense Lawyers

Shoplifting Attorneys in Central Texas

Getting accused of stealing can be can be an embarrassing ordeal. Depending on the value of the alleged loss, a theft charge can range anywhere from a Class C misdemeanor to a first-degree felony. The penalties can range anywhere from a simple fine to time in prison. The consequences of pleading guilty to a theft charge follow you for the rest of your life. Theft is a “crime of moral turpitude” and many potential employers, universities, and other agencies will require you to list it on an application.

Aggressive Defense Strategies

The State of Texas aggressively prosecutes theft cases. This is why you need to mount an aggressive defense. The State of Texas is working against you. You need someone working for you. We will work for you. Smith & Vinson Law Firm represents client’s accused of theft in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Taylor, Hutto and all around the Central Texas area. Contact us now for a free consultation at (512) 359-3743.

You need a competent, qualified Austin theft defense attorney on your side that can review the evidence and fight the State of Texas to keep a theft conviction off your record. In many situations, there can be a resolution that does not end with a conviction on your record. There may be diversion programs available that can avoid a conviction on your record. If there was a complaining witness, many times district attorney’s offices are more concerned about getting restitution back to them then the actual conviction on your record. There are many more options available than just pleading guilty to theft. Let Smith & Vinson Law Firm review your case and fight for you.

Austin Shoplifting Lawyers

If you are in a large chain retail store, such as Wal-Mart or Target, store security will detain you and question you before calling the police. While a shoplifting charge may seem minor, a theft conviction of any type can follow you for the rest of your life. It will show up on any routine background check and could ruin your chances at getting the job of your dreams or qualifying for that scholarship you need for school. Whether you are accused of stealing a $60,000 car or a $2 candy bar, a theft charge must be taken very seriously.

Types of Theft Crimes

There are many different types of theft crimes. Generally, the State of Texas will need to show two things before they can convict you of a theft crime: 1) that you had criminal intent, meaning you took the property with the intent to steal it, and 2) that you had possession of the property.

Some of the more common theft crimes are:

Shoplifting
Writing bad checks
Check forgery
Credit card theft
Identity theft
Buying or accepting stolen property
Auto theft
Fraud or embezzlement
Burglary
Robbery

Each crime requires proof of different elements and has different defenses available. And, for each element of the charged offense, the State of Texas has the burden of proving them beyond a reasonable doubt. You are innocent until proven guilty. If you are facing theft charges you need a theft crime defense attorney who understands these differences. Smith & Vinson Law Firm will fight for you. We will do everything we can to make sure a theft charge does not destroy your life.

Punishment

Theft crimes are punished based on the value of the property taken.

AMOUNT	CLASSIFICATION	PENALTY
Less than $50, or less than $20 if by check	Class C misdemeanor	Fine of up to $500
$50 or more but less than $500, or $20 but less than $500 if by check	Class B misdemeanor	Up to 180 days in county jail Fine of up to $2,000
$500 or more, but less than $1,500	Class A misdemeanor	Up to 1 year in county jail Fine of up to $4,000
$1,500 or more, but less than $20,000	State jail felony	Between 180 days and 2 years in state jail Up to $10,000 fine
$20,000 or more, but less than $100,000	Third-degree felony	Between 2 and 10 years in prison Fine of up to $10,000
$100,000 to $200,000	Second-degree felony	Between 2 and 20 years in prison Fine of up to $10,000
$200,000 or more	First-degree felony	Between 5 and 99 years in prison Fine of up to $10,000

What to Do If You Are Accused of Shoplifting in A Retail Store

Cooperate with security. In most cases, you will be confronted by either the retail security or a Loss Prevention Officer. Remain calm and do not try to flee. Most major retailers will call the police when they suspect shoplifting, and fleeing police or resisting arrest could lead to additional charges.

If questioned by store employees, request a witness. Request that either another employee or the store manager be present during questioning. Make sure you take down everyone’s name and job title.

Carefully read all paperwork before signing it. Store policy will require most places to write an incident report. If you are asked to sign it, make sure you read it thoroughly before you do so. Refuse to sign any document with incorrect or incomplete information.

Call Smith & Vinson Law Firm. Before you leave the store, the store manager will have likely called the police. If you have been arrested or given a citation and/or a court date, call us immediately for a free consultation. Jarrod Smith and Brad Vinson are aggressive criminal defense lawyers who are on call 24/7 to review your case.

Most major retail stores will prosecute shoplifters to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of the value of the property taken. Further, returning the items or paying restitution will not prevent charges from being filed. It is, therefore, imperative that you not attempt to handle a shoplifting or theft charge on your own. Call us immediately, so that we can begin interviewing witnesses, locating security camera footage, and reviewing the offense reports. Remember, the State of Texas must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you had the intent to steal. Many retail security staff detain suspects before they even attempt to leave the store and write incident reports that are one-sided and missing key factual details. Jarrod Smith and Brad Vinson can mount an aggressive defense. Let us fight for you.

Austin Theft Crimes Attorneys

If you have been arrested or charged with a theft offense in Austin, Travis County, Williamson County, Hays County, or any of the surrounding areas in Texas contact Smith & Vinson Law Firm.

At Smith & Vinson Law Firm, we take your theft charges seriously and fight to protect your constitutional rights. Jarrod Smith and Brad Vinson are aggressive trial lawyers that will fight for you from day one to get the best possible resolution for your case.

Contact our office today for a free initial consultation. Call (512) 359-3743 now.

Our Clients Are Our Biggest Endorsers
Hear What They Have to Say

Professional and effective attorney
“Brad was extremely professional throughout the entire process. He was direct and prompt in responding to my inquiries and I felt at ease knowing he was taking care of my case. I will definitely use Brad and his firm in the future and highly recommend them if you need an excellent defense attorney! Thanks Brad!”

Andi
110% glad I chose Jarrod to represent and fight for me.
“Pay them, be honest with them and communicate with them and they will fix your mistake. Plain and simple. Charged 1st DWI offense. Called in. Told them scenario. Worked with payment methods (very important) .I had numerous lawyers to choose from. 110% glad I chose Jarrod to represent and fight for me. Throughout whole process I had the utmost confidence in Mr. Smith and his work. the goal when we first met was to "get the DWI dismissed" and that is exactly what happened. mission accomplished. if you need a DWI removed call jarrod”

Ronald D.
Fantastic Attorney = Fantastic Results
“I hired Brad Vinson to handle a legal matter and I could not have made a better decision! Brad was attentive, listened to the facts of the case, and strategized a plan that would lead to the best result possible. Brad was communicative, available, and ultimately delivered on what he stated he would do. During this process, there were no unexpected hiccups because Brad understands the law, and understands how to defend his clients. There is no doubt that I would recommend Brad and the whole team at Smith & Vinson to represent any individual that needs legal representation. The whole team is fantastic, and delivers fantastic results.”

Justin
Professional representation at its best!
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Brad and Jarrod for handling my case. Both of these men represented with much professionalism and didn't at all treat me like a criminal. At times I was skeptical since I was facing so much uncertainty. Both men obviously could not predict the outcome of things but assured me that they will work hard for me. They sure kept their promise on that! Both men took the time to get to know me and my situation before designing a plan to represent me. When I was in doubt with much fear they reassured me that "things will be all right". I am grateful for the representation both men have provided me and without hesitation, I would speak volumes of their service. Thank you so much!”

Victor
5 Stars in making me feel like a top priority!
“Jarrod Smith of Smith and Vinson Law Firm provided me with the best service I could have possibly asked for. Having no background in law and finding myself in a situation that left me feeling extremely vulnerable, I felt quickly at ease in their care. They were very reasonable with my situation and helped work around my needs in providing me the most support and information on how to best handle my case. I'd recommend this firm to anyone seeking help with a traffic violation of any kind. I feel that if it weren't for them I would have been heavily misguided and probably would not have made it through the system with the best possible outcome for me. 5 Stars for their service, generosity, and in making me feel like a top priority!”

Andrew

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