Fleming Island Shoplifting Lawyer

Many people consider shoplifting a trivial matter. Some kids consider stealing an item from a convenience or clothing store to be almost a rite of passage. People occasionally steal things as part of a hazing incident or as a way to prove their loyalty to a group. However, the law takes shoplifting very seriously because it hurts retailers. If someone catches you shoplifting, you could face very real and damaging consequences.

If you are facing shoplifting charges, Pick Porter™! A dedicated Fleming Island shoplifting lawyer from the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., could help you protect your rights. Call now to get the help of our experienced theft attorneys.

Relevant Local Shoplifting Laws

A shoplifting or retail theft incident occurs when someone takes something from a store without paying for it. According to Florida Statutes § 812.015, retail theft can involve any of the following acts:

Taking away merchandise, money, or property from a store
Swapping or taking off a label, price tag, or product code to make the price lower than it should be
Moving merchandise in a store from one place to another to get a lower price on the merchandise
Taking a full shopping cart while intending to deprive the store owners of the full retail value of the items inside the cart

The value of the allegedly stolen item determines the charges you could face. For instance, if the item is of small monetary value, you would likely face petit theft charges, which are second-degree misdemeanors. If the item in question was expensive, you would likely face grand theft felony charges. If you have a prior history of shoplifting, you could face more serious charges with harsher penalties. Our Fleming Island attorneys could work closely with you to ensure you fully understand the retail theft charges you face and the possible legal consequences.

How Can You Defend Yourself Against a Shoplifting Charge?

You should never try to manage a legal matter by yourself. Even if you think it is minor, a shoplifting charge can have long-lasting effects on your life. You should work with a knowledgeable and trusted Fleming Island lawyer who has extensive experience fighting shoplifting charges. Our determined legal team at Problems? Pick Porter!™ could examine the facts of your situation, look at the evidence gathered by the prosecution, and search for the best legal strategy to fight against the charges.

Suppress Negative Evidence on Constitutional Grounds

Our attorneys could fight to suppress negative evidence that could harm your case. We would look for constitutional violations, such as evidence seized by the police in an unlawful search and seizure. We would seek to challenge the admission of any evidence if the police did not have probable cause or a warrant to stop you and look through your bags.

Challenge the Value of Items

We could also challenge the value of the allegedly stolen items. If the prosecution has charged you with a more serious crime based on a higher value of the item, we would help you find evidence proving the item has a lower value.

Lack of Intent

You might be able to argue that you did not knowingly take an item. For instance, you could claim that it fell into your purse by mistake and that you had no intention of stealing it.

Our attorneys could help determine the best defensive strategy that would help us fight for you.

Discuss Your Shoplifting Charges With a Fleming Island Attorney

Shop theft is very damaging to retailers. Consequently, law enforcement officials take shoplifting very seriously. To better your chances of reaching a positive resolution to your case, you should work with a well-versed, local Fleming Island shoplifting lawyer.