Franklin Theft Lawyer
Attorney Defending Individuals Charge with Theft of Property or Services in Williamson County, TN
Theft Crimes Explained
If you have been arrested and charged with a theft crime, which includes Shoplifting, Theft of Property, Theft of Services, Embezzlement, Conversion, or Receiving, Concealing or Possessing Stolen Property, you should consult with a criminal defense attorney. It is important to find an attorney with experience handling criminal cases and defending theft crimes. Theft Crimes can be misdemeanors or felonies depending upon the value of the property. If the value of the property is $500.00 or less, the offense would be a Class A Misdemeanor. If the property is over $500.00, the offense is a Felony. Other crimes which are related to theft crimes are Extortion, Forgery, Identity Theft, Joyriding and Worthless Checks. The attorneys at Milazo Law have the experience to represent and defend you.
Theft of Property
is defined as: When a person, with the intent to deprive the owner of property, knowingly obtains or exercises control over the property without the owner's effective consent. This may include concealing property.
Theft of Services is defined as a person who:
- Intentionally obtains services by deception, fraud, coercion, false pretense or any other means to avoid payment for the services;
- Having control over the disposition of services to others, knowingly diverts those services to the other person's own benefit or to the benefit of another not entitled thereto; or
- Knowingly absconds from establishments where compensation for services is ordinarily paid immediately upon the rendering of them, including, but not limited to, hotels, motels and restaurants, without payment or a bona fide offer to pay.
Joyriding is defined as: When a person takes another's automobile, airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or other vehicle without the consent of the owner and the person does not have the intent to deprive the owner thereof.
It is an affirmative defense to Theft of Property, Theft of Services and Joyriding if the person:
- Acted under an honest claim of right to the property or service involved;
- Acted in honest belief that the person had the right to obtain or exercise control over the property or service as the person did; or
- Obtained or exercised control over property or service honestly believing that the owner, if present, would have consented.
Forgery
Forgery is committed when a person forges a writing with the intent to defraud or harm another. Forge means to:
(A) Alter, make, complete, execute or authenticate any writing so that it purports to:
(i) Be the act of another who did not authorize that act;
(ii) Have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case; or
(iii) Be a copy of an original when no such original existed;
(B) Make false entries into books or records;
(C) Issue, transfer, register the transfer of, pass, publish, or otherwise utter a writing that is forged within the meaning of subdivision (A); or
(D) Possess a writing that is forged within the meaning of subdivision (A) with intent to utter it in a manner specified in subdivision (C).
Forgery is punishable as theft, based upon value, but in no event is it classified less than a Class E Felony.
Theft Crimes Explained
If you have been arrested and charged with a theft crime, which includes Shoplifting, Theft of Property, Theft of Services, Embezzlement, Conversion, or Receiving, Concealing or Possessing Stolen Property, you should consult with a criminal defense attorney. It is important to find an attorney with experience handling criminal cases and defending theft crimes. Theft Crimes can be misdemeanors or felonies depending upon the value of the property. If the value of the property is $500.00 or less, the offense would be a Class A Misdemeanor. If the property is over $500.00, the offense is a Felony. Other crimes which are related to theft crimes are Extortion, Forgery, Identity Theft, Joyriding and Worthless Checks. The attorneys at Milazo Law have the experience to represent and defend you.
Theft of Property
is defined as: When a person, with the intent to deprive the owner of property, knowingly obtains or exercises control over the property without the owner's effective consent. This may include concealing property.
Theft of Services is defined as a person who:
- Intentionally obtains services by deception, fraud, coercion, false pretense or any other means to avoid payment for the services;
- Having control over the disposition of services to others, knowingly diverts those services to the other person's own benefit or to the benefit of another not entitled thereto; or
- Knowingly absconds from establishments where compensation for services is ordinarily paid immediately upon the rendering of them, including, but not limited to, hotels, motels and restaurants, without payment or a bona fide offer to pay.
Joyriding is defined as: When a person takes another's automobile, airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or other vehicle without the consent of the owner and the person does not have the intent to deprive the owner thereof.
It is an affirmative defense to Theft of Property, Theft of Services and Joyriding if the person:
- Acted under an honest claim of right to the property or service involved;
- Acted in honest belief that the person had the right to obtain or exercise control over the property or service as the person did; or
- Obtained or exercised control over property or service honestly believing that the owner, if present, would have consented.
Forgery
Forgery is committed when a person forges a writing with the intent to defraud or harm another. Forge means to:
(A) Alter, make, complete, execute or authenticate any writing so that it purports to:
(i) Be the act of another who did not authorize that act;
(ii) Have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case; or
(iii) Be a copy of an original when no such original existed;
(B) Make false entries into books or records;
(C) Issue, transfer, register the transfer of, pass, publish, or otherwise utter a writing that is forged within the meaning of subdivision (A); or
(D) Possess a writing that is forged within the meaning of subdivision (A) with intent to utter it in a manner specified in subdivision (C).
Forgery is punishable as theft, based upon value, but in no event is it classified less than a Class E Felony.
If you have been arrested and charged with theft, contact our criminal defense lawyer in Franklin, TN at Milazo Law to discuss your case. Plan your defense against theft crimes today. Call 615-599-7719 or fill out an online form.