Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
If you are caught shoplifting at a retail store in Jacksonville, Florida, you may be charged with theft in Duval County Court. If the retail store calls the police, you will either be arrested or issued a notice to appear in court for the charge of Jacksonville theft. The charge that you will be facing depends on the amount that you allegedly shoplifted. If the value of the property is $300.00 or more, it is a felony theft. (See Jacksonville Shoplifting Crimes Range From Misdemeanor to Felony Charges)
Jacksonville shoplifting and theft is not a crime that should be taken lightly. When job searching, employers often disapprove of this crime, and it could affect their hiring decisions. Therefore, it is important to attack this Jacksonville theft case early. You may be able to defend the case due to a lack of evidence or by proving that you were falsely accused. In some Jacksonville theft cases, the Duval County State Attorney Office may consider diverting the criminal case, causing the charges to later be dropped. The last thing that you want to do is be convicted of a Jacksonville theft crime, because this will affect your ability to seal or expunge your Jacksonville criminal record. Therefore, it is important to contact a Jacksonville Theft Attorney.