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Theft Crimes

Updated: Feb 28, 2024 @ 10:12 am

Theft related criminal offenses are considered crimes of moral turpitude, and are serious offenses in the eyes of the general public and the people who make up the criminal justice system as a whole. The most commonly prosecuted felony and misdemeanor theft offenses in Houston and Texas are shoplifting, theft by bad or “hot” checks, general theft, and buying “or accepting” stolen property.

If you’ve been arrested for a criminal offense involving theft, burglary, fraud, embezzlement, auto theft, robbery, aggravated robbery, or shoplifting, make sure to get in touch with attorney Tad Nelson or another equally qualified criminal defense lawyer in Houston as soon as possible.

Penalties for Theft Related Offenses in Texas

Property Value
Criminal Classification Penalty If Convicted
Under $50
Under $20 (By Check)
Class C Misdemeanor $500 Fine
$50 – $50
$20-$500 (By Check)
Class B Misdemeanor Up to 180 Days County Jail
Fine of up to 2000.00
$500 – $1,500 Class A Misdemeanor Up to 1 Year County Jail
Fine of up to 4000.00
$1,500 – $20,000 State Jail Felony 180 days to 2 Years State Jail
Fine of up to 10000.00
$20,000 – $100,000 3rd Degree Felony 2 to 10 Years State Prison
Fine of up to 10000.00
$100,000 – $200,000 2nd Degree Felony 2 to 20 Years State Prison
Fine of up to 10000.00
$200,000 or more 1st Degree Felony 5 to 99 Years State Prison
Fine of up to 10000.00

We Fight Robbery Charges

Robbery cases are also classified as theft crimes, however, a robbery charge is a theft crime that includes the potential for violence, or the treat of violence, and is classified as a 2nd Degree Felony in the state of Texas. 2nd Degree Felony convictions carry a sentence of anywhere from 2 to 20 years imprisonment a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison facility with a possible fine of up to ten thousand dollars.

Aggravated robbery charges apply if there is the use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a theft, bodily injuries are caused in commission of the crime, or the victim of the robbery is over the age of 64 or disabled. Aggravated robbery crimes are classified as 1st degree felonies and the penalty if convicted can be up to 99 years in state prison plus a fine of up to 10,000.00.

We Defend Houstonians Accused of Burglary

If you’re charged with burglary by law enforcement, you’re facing a serious criminal offense that carries a felony classification, prison time, and an unsightly entry on your criminal background.

Tad Nelson not only has an understanding of how to approach juries during criminal trials, he also has experience successfully defending Texans who have been cornered by police, and accused of burgling a premise.

Burglary and Texas Law

Texas Penal Code, Title 7, Chapter 30 defines the crime of burglary as partaking in one of the following actions without first getting the consent of the owner;

Sec. 30.02. BURGLARY.

(a) A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person:

  • (1) enters a habitation, or a building (or any portion of a building) not then open to the public, with intent to commit a felony, theft, or an assault; or
  • (2) remains concealed, with intent to commit a felony, theft, or an assault, in a building or habitation; or
  • (3) enters a building or habitation and commits or attempts to commit a felony, theft, or an assault.

Penalties For Burglary in Texas

Burglary cases tend to be state jail felony charges which carry a potential prison sentence of up to 2 years, and a monetary fine of an amount not to exceed 10,000.00.

If the burglary occurred at a residence, the crime may be charged as a second degree felony which can mean the possibility of a 20 year prison sentence for a person found guilty of the crime in the court of law.

Burglary, when it applies to a vehicle, is a Class A Misdemeanor criminal offense in the state of Texas which carries a potential county jail sentence of up to 1 year. However, a criminal record of related crimes may justify an enhancement of your case to a State Jail Felony.

Need a Houston Criminal Lawyer? Call Tad

Whether you’ve been accused of robbery at gunpoint, or of shoplifting in a mall or department store like WalMart, Target, or Macy’s,  you’ll need to talk with a criminal defense lawyer in Houston as soon as you can. Often times there isn’t enough evidence to clearly back up a claim of shoplifting. In other cases, the wrong person was arrested by the police. This is why its so important that you contact the lawyers of the Law Offices of Tad Nelson and Associates, or another theft charge defense lawyer if you’ve been accused of shoplifting in the Houston area.

Tad Nelson handles the full array of theft crimes, including cases of aggravated robbery, federal charges (bank robberies), and white collar crimes. If you’ve been arrested, or feel you’re under investigation for a theft related criminal offense, contact us.

Houston Theft, Burglary, Shoplifting Attorney

Theft Crimes

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