Theft Attorney in Knoxville

The crime of theft is defined as theft of property under Tennessee law. The sentences imposed on individuals convicted of theft of property can vary greatly and are determined by the value of the stolen property.

Petit Theft Lawyer in Knoxville, TN

Theft of property is committed by a person if “with intent to deprive the owner of property, the person knowingly obtains or exercises control over the property without the owner’s effective consent” pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-103(a). Misdemeanor theft of property, which is also referred to a petit theft, is theft of property that is valued at $1,000 or less.

Penalties for Petit Theft in Tennessee

Petit theft is a Class A misdemeanor offense that is punishable up to 11 months and 29 days in the county, a fine of $2,500, or both. For first time offenders, there are many legal options available to keep this offense off their criminal record such as pretrial and judicial diversion programs.

Tennessee Grand Theft Attorney

Felony theft of property, which is commonly referred to as grand theft, is theft of property that is valued over $1,000. Grand theft is a felony offense, but the value of the property stolen determines which class of felony the offender is charged with and thus, determines the potential sentence the offender could face.

Penalties for Grand Theft in TN

The sentences for grand theft vary greatly depending on which class of felony the offender is charged with, which can range from a Class E felony to a Class A felony depending on the value of the property. The value of the stolen property, its respective felony classification according to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-105(a), and the sentencing guidelines for the offense are listed below:

Property valued between $1,001 and $2,499: Class E felony that is punishable by 1 to 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000
Property valued between $2,500 and $9,999: Class D felony that is punishable by 2 to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,0000
Property valued between $10,000 and $59,999: Class C felony that is punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000
Property valued between $60,000 and $249,999: Class B felony that is punishable by 8 to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000
Property valued at $250,000 and over: Class A felony that is punishable by 15 to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000

There are number of factors that will be considered for any grand theft charge such as the presence of a firearm, whether or not the victim suffered any bodily injuries, and the offender’s criminal record. Each of these factors and others that are specific to the crime committed will be used to determine the offender’s exact sentence. The wide array of sentences that could be imposed on an offender demonstrates why effective legal counsel is so important. An experienced criminal defense attorney will assess the strength of the evidence, the legality of the arrest, and whether or not the property is being properly valued according to applicable law.

Knoxville, TN Worthless Checks Lawyer

Under Tennessee law, passing a worthless check is considered a form of theft. The sentence imposed on the offender is determined by the value of the check or checks that were used. The sentencing and crime classification guidelines used for theft are also used for worthless checks. For an individual to commit this crime under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-121(a)(1)(A), they must pass a check with fraudulent intent, or the offender had to know at the time the check was issued that there were insufficient funds available in the offender’s account to cover the value of the check.

Knoxville, TN Theft Lawyer

Theft crimes of all types are serious offenses under Tennessee law that carry hefty prison or jails sentences and fines, but an experienced lawyer can prove to be an invaluable asset during any criminal proceeding. Attorney Paul Hensley has over 20 years of experience defending clients accused of theft related offenses, and he stands ready to help you through the complex legal process. So, give our office a call today to find out how Attorney Hensley can help you.