Theft in Shelby County

It can be difficult for a person to know what to do in the event that the government accuses them of a crime. Someone may feel stressed, attacked or frightened, which are all normal responses when faced with a theft charge. A skilled Shelby County theft lawyer could help guide someone through the process of an accusation, which may turn into a charge and lead to a trial.

A person who accused of a theft offense, may find having the assistance of an aggressive defense attorney to be helpful when fighting such a charge. Typically, the prosecutor will use any evidence obtained by the police against someone charged with theft in order to succeed in court. In that situation, an attorney can help defend a person against those charges and protect their rights.

In Alabama, there are four levels of theft, the fourth degree being a misdemeanor and the other three constituting a felony. Even a misdemeanor charge can result in the loss of a person’s freedom and a felony charge can follow the person who is convicted their whole life. The degree of the theft often relates to the current market value of the property at issue.

• Stealing the property of another
• Burglary
• Shoplifting
• Identity theft
• Criminal trespass

A Shelby County theft lawyer could defend an individual drom the charges that they face.

According to Alabama Code Section 13A-8-3, a person can be charged with theft of the first-degree if accused of taking a motor vehicle, property worth more than $2,500, or the theft involved a plan to take property and sell it and the value of the property was at least $1,000. A conviction of first-degree theft is a Class B felony.

Theft in the second-degree is defined in Alabama Code Section 13A-8-4 and it states that a person can be convicted of that crime if they stole property worth between $1,500 and $2,500, a firearm, a controlled substance, or livestock regardless of its value. A conviction of second-degree theft is considered a Class C felony.

A person can be convicted of theft in the third-degree, according to Alabama Code Section 13A-8-4.1, if they took property valued at more than $500, up to $1,499, or they took a credit or debit card. A conviction of third-degree theft is a Class D felony.

Fourth degree theft is defined as a Class misdemeanor. Such an offense may include taking property worth no more than $500, as defined in Alabama Code Section 13A-8-5.

If a person has been charged with a theft violation, contacting a Shelby county theft lawyer may be in their best interests. Even a misdemeanor charge can have significant consequences. A seasoned theft attorney who is well-informed about the various ways a theft charge can be defended against could help a person succeed legally in front of a judge.

It is difficult to deal with the consequences of a theft accusation alone. Contact a credible Shelby County theft attorney for additional information of how they could assist someone defending against a theft charge.