Theft Charges in Texas
If you have been arrested for a misdemeanor or felony theft charge in Texas, you definitely need legal representation. In this tough economy, you can't afford NOT to put up a fight if you have a misdemeanor theft charge or felony theft/abuse arrest to deal with. The good news is that it is not always easy for the prosecution to prove criminal theft charges in Texas with the right criminal defense attorney. There may also be mistakes in how you were arrested or charged with theft that could lead to a not guilty finding, dismissal, or reduction of your theft charges to a Class C Misdemeanor as opposed to Class A or Class B theft - which will ruin your criminal record if convicted. You owe it to yourself to consult with a reputable Texas theft lawyer before simply pleading guilty to a theft crime in Dallas or Collin County. Contact Plano Criminal Defense Attorney Andrew Peveto and see if you have a valid defense to your Texas theft charges.
At the Law Offices of Andrew S Peveto, we have experience making it tough for the State to prove its theft case against you. Whether you will ultimately require negotiation of a favorable plea bargain agreement or an aggressive defense at trial, you need a hardworking, experienced, and compassionate advocate who understands you are caught up in a frightening legal problem and need serious legal help. If you or a loved one has been arrested on Texas theft charges in McKinney, Dallas, or Collin County, contact Peveto Law today for your free consultation. We offer aggressive and effective representation for those arrested for all types of theft crimes.
Texas Theft by Check | Theft of Service Charges
In Mckinney, Texas Theft by Check charges and Theft of Service charges are the most commonly filed misdemeanor theft charges. For some reason, Collin county businesses especially like to file criminal charges against clients who wrote a check that bounced are possibly forgot to pay for a service. These businesses that file these bogus theft charges often don’t know whether or not the client INTENDED to steal the good or service – as opposed to it being an inadvertent hot check or simple misunderstanding. Nevertheless, they file the criminal theft charges for either theft of service or theft by check with the Collin county District Attorney’s Office in McKinney, and the next thing you know, you have been accused of committing Texas theft by check or Theft of service – a criminal charge that could destroy your future if convicted. That’s the bad news. The good news is that, to be convicted of theft by check or theft of service in Texas, the prosecutors need to show that you acted with "criminal intent" - meaning you knew that your checking account would have insufficient funds – and you wrote the check anyway, or that you intended to commit theft of service when you accepted the service by intentionally not paying for it. With a good Texas theft lawyer in McKinney and DFW like criminal defense attorney Andrew Peveto, you can beat Texas theft by check or theft or service charges by challenging the prosecutor to produce evidence of criminal intent. Contact us today for a consultation.
Theft in Texas - Punishment Ranges
The table below shows the general classifications and punishments ranges you could face if convicted on theft charges. However, punishments can be enhanced as follows: (1) Class B and Class C misdemeanor theft charges increase one level if you have had a previous theft conviction, and (2) Class A misdemeanor theft becomes a state jail felony if you have had two previous theft convictions. Also, the theft of some items (such as firearms) or copper or aluminum wiring are felonies no matter what the actual value is. Shoplifting charges also automatically become more serious if you are convicted of using tools to defeat theft prevention devices.
| Amount | Classification | Penalties |
| theft less than $50, or $20 by check | Class C Misdemeanor | A fine of not more than $500 |
| theft $50 to $500, or $20 to $500 if by check | Class B Misdemeanor | Not more than 180 days jail and/or fine of $2,000 |
| theft between $500 and $1,500 | Class A Misdemeanor | Not more than 1 year jail and/or fine of $4,000 |
| theft of $1,500 to $20,000 | State jail Felony | 180 days to 2 years state jail and/or $10,000 |
| theft of $20,000 to $100,000 | Third-degree Felony | 2 to 10 years state prison and/or $10,000 |
| theft of $100,000 to $200,000 | Second-degree felony | 2 to 20 years in a state prison and/or $10,000 |
| theft $200,000 or more | First-degree felony | 5 to 99 years state prison and/or $10,000 |
Texas Credit Card Abuse | Debit Card Abuse
While all crimes reflect badly on a person, a conviction in Texas for felony abuse of a credit card or felony debit card abuse is especially damaging because it is considered a crime of moral turpitude in Texas. In other words, they are crimes that have been deemed by Texas law to reflect poorly on your character – and thus make you practically untouchable to Texas employers if you have an abuse of credit card/debit card charge on your criminal record. Under Texas law, felony credit card abuse can encompass a wide variety of situations – from allegedly abusing a person's credit card by using it without their permission – or even simply receiving a collateral benefit from a stolen credit card. But no matter the circumstances, mistakes happen. You owe it to yourself to consult with an attorney and see if there may be a way out. Punishment Range. Texas credit card abuse is a state jail felony which can result in six months to two years in jail or up to five years of probation and fines of up to $10,000. In addition, certain circumstances involved may increase the severity of credit card abuse charges. For example, if the suspect has prior convictions or if the victim was elderly, the abuse of credit card charge is enhanced to a more serious felony. It is sometimes possible to negotiate a lesser misdemeanor theft charge if the stolen money is repaid and this is a first offense of felony credit card abuse.
