Defense of charge: Theft “Class B Misdemeanor” ($100 < $750),
Result: Case Dismissed in 6 Days!
If you are charged with theft in Texas (or shoplifting), you need an experienced criminal defense attorney that handles theft cases in Harris County, Texas. Theft crimes in Texas can range from a class C misdemeanor to a serious felony where prison time can be at stake. I get to work on a case once hired. I take pride in my work ethic and the results I get for my clients.
In this case, I was hired on January 20, 2023, for a crime alleged to have happened a week before. Through diligent communication with the prosecutor, I got this case dismissed six days after being hired. The urgency was vital in this case because there were immigration issues.
This particular case was a class B misdemeanor. Under Texas’s law, a Class B misdemeanor is punishable by up to 180 days in county jail, a fine of as much as $2,000, or both. Further, theft crimes are considered a crime of moral turpitude. For the state to charge someone with theft, they must show the defendant acted with criminal intent, meaning that the defendant knew the property belonged to another person, the defendant knew they didn’t have permission to take the property, and that you possessed the property. Prosecutors commonly prove this by using store surveillance recordings, officer body camera recordings, or statements by defendants or accomplices.
A crime of moral turpitude can be described as a crime that involves dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or deliberate violence. Even though violence was not alleged in this case, theft is still looked at in a bad light. Moral turpitude crimes have also been described as crimes done knowingly contrary to justice, honesty, principle, or good morals.
Unfortunately, theft cases, whether misdemeanors or a felony, can follow good people around for the rest of their life because they are a crime of moral turpitude. Whether it’s a job application, an apartment application, a housing application, or even if a family issue arises and you find yourself in front of a family judge, theft cases can occur.
My client was accused of shoplifting from Macy’s department store. Several items were included in the charge for this case – kitchen appliances, soap dispensers, clothing, jewelry, curtains, and picture frames. She was shopping with her daughter, and it was unclear whether they intended to deprive the Complainant of the property. However, something needed to be done fast.
There are several ways to get a misdemeanor case dismissed. Cases can be dismissed on the merits (whether the defense attorney can raise enough doubt the state will be able to prove their case at trial beyond a reasonable doubt, through pre-trial intervention (an agreement between the state and the defendant that a case will be dismissed after certain conditions are met) or through taking an online class for dismissal.
However the case is resolved, you need an experienced defense attorney to evaluate the case and fight for the best outcome. My client was pleased with the result and especially the dismissal after only six days.
If you have any questions about the defense of theft crimes in Texas, contact criminal defense attorney Ty Brock online or by phone: 713-899-3355.
