Pasco County Grand Theft Lawyer

A theft accusation turns into a felony the moment the value of the property crosses a line, and that line is lower than most people expect. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that handles nothing but criminal cases, and we defend people charged with theft offenses across Pasco County, Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, and the wider Tampa Bay area.

If you are searching for a Pasco County grand theft lawyer, you are likely dealing with a charge that was filed because of a dollar figure, a type of property, or a place the property was taken from. Those three things, not the story behind the accusation, decide whether a prosecutor files a misdemeanor or a felony. They are also where a defense usually starts.

Grand theft is not shoplifting with a bigger price tag. It is a separate category with felony consequences: prison exposure, a permanent record, and collateral damage to jobs, licenses, and immigration status. Getting the valuation, the intent, and the classification right is the work.

What Separates Grand Theft From Petit Theft in Florida

Florida draws the line at value, but not only at value. Theft of property worth $750 or more, up to but not including $5,000, is grand theft of the third degree. So is theft from $5,000 up to $10,000, and from $10,000 up to $20,000. All three tiers are third-degree felonies, which carry up to 5 years in prison.

The ladder climbs from there. Property valued at $20,000 or more but under $100,000 is grand theft of the second degree, a second-degree felony with up to 15 years of imprisonment. At $100,000 or more, the charge becomes grand theft of the first degree, a first-degree felony.

Below $750, the offense is generally petit theft, a misdemeanor. That is why the number on the charging document matters so much. A first-degree misdemeanor carries up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. A second-degree misdemeanor carries up to 60 days and a fine of up to $500. Moving a case from the felony side of $750 to the misdemeanor side changes everything that follows.

Value is not the only trigger. Florida treats some property as grand theft regardless of price. Taking a firearm or a motor vehicle (each subject to a stated statutory exception) is grand theft of the third degree, as is theft of a will or other testamentary instrument. And theft of property worth $40 or more but under $750 taken from a dwelling or its unenclosed curtilage, such as a yard or porch area, is also a third-degree felony. A package lifted from a front porch or a tool taken from an open carport can land in felony territory even when the item is cheap.

Why Choose King Law Group for a Pasco Grand Theft Charge

King Law Group is led by founder Cameron King, a Tampa Bay native and former Florida state prosecutor who earned his law degree at Florida State University, where he concentrated his studies in criminal law. As a prosecutor he handled cases ranging from murder to DUI, and he later spent years as a criminal defense attorney at a prominent litigation firm. The firm represents clients in Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties and throughout Tampa Bay, and it is available around the clock, with free case evaluations.

That prosecution background is practical in a theft case. Grand theft files often turn on judgment calls made by a prosecutor: how the property was valued, whether the evidence of intent holds up, and whether a case belongs in a diversion or deferred prosecution track instead of a felony plea. Cameron King has sat on the other side of those decisions and knows how the state weighs them.

The firm handles only criminal defense, so the attorney on your case is not splitting attention across unrelated practice areas. Former clients describe Mr. King as honest, straightforward, effective, and a tireless advocate, and several mention that he answers calls quickly and explains each step of the case. If a favorable plea, a reduction, or a dismissal is available on your facts, the goal is to find it.

Common Grand Theft Charges We See in Pasco County

• Retail and Big-Box Theft: Pasco’s shopping corridors generate cases where merchandise totals are added up across items or visits until they cross $750. Whether the state can prove the retail value, and whether the items were actually concealed or removed, are common points of dispute under s. 812.014.
• Theft From a Dwelling: Taking property worth $40 or more but under $750 from a home or its unenclosed curtilage is a third-degree felony. Porch deliveries, yard equipment, and items in open garages are typical examples.
• Motor Vehicle Theft: Taking a car is grand theft of the third degree, with a stated statutory exception. Disputes often involve borrowed vehicles, family conflicts over who had permission, and ex-partners claiming a car was stolen.
• Firearm Theft: Theft of a firearm is third-degree grand theft regardless of the gun’s value, again subject to a statutory exception. These cases frequently overlap with weapons allegations.
• Employee and Workplace Theft: Allegations of skimming from a register, taking inventory, or misusing company funds can reach the higher valuation tiers, and can blur into white collar charges.
• Construction and Equipment Theft: Tools, trailers, and machinery taken from job sites or work trucks are valued by the state, and the valuation is often contestable.
• High-Value Property and Fraud-Adjacent Cases: Theft valued at $20,000 or more is a second-degree felony, and $100,000 or more is a first-degree felony. Accounting records, not witnesses, usually drive these files.
• Conspiracy and Shared-Liability Theft: When several people are accused in one incident, each person’s actual role and knowledge matters. Being present is not the same as participating.

What to Do After a Grand Theft Arrest in Pasco County

Say as little as possible to officers and ask for a lawyer. Statements made casually, to explain or clear things up, are among the most damaging pieces of evidence in a theft case because they often concede intent or ownership. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, and using both is not an admission of anything.

Write down what you remember while it is fresh, but keep it for your lawyer only. Gather anything that shows ownership, permission, receipts, messages, or a payment history. In theft cases, a text message saying “go ahead and take it” can matter more than anything an officer wrote in a report.

Early court activity in Pasco County runs through the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey serves western Pasco, and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City handles circuit and county criminal cases for eastern Pasco. Which one hears your case depends on where the alleged offense occurred. A first appearance usually addresses release conditions, so if bond is set, an attorney can argue for lower or no money bail.

Do not contact the alleged victim, even to apologize or settle things. A message meant to resolve a dispute can be read as pressure and can create new problems. Do not sign anything from a store, employer, or insurer without a lawyer reviewing it. Civil demand letters from retailers are separate from the criminal case, and paying one does not make the charge disappear.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, tell your attorney before any plea discussion. Theft can be treated as a crime of moral turpitude in immigration law, and some plea structures that look harmless carry serious consequences for a green card holder.

How Grand Theft Cases Get Defended and Resolved

The strongest grand theft defenses usually attack one of three things. First is value: the state must prove the property met the statutory threshold, and the difference between retail price, fair market value, and what the property was actually worth used can drop a charge a full tier or into misdemeanor range. Second is intent: theft requires that the person meant to take or use the property in a way that deprives the owner of it, so claims of mistake, borrowing, a co-owner’s permission, or a good-faith belief of right to the item can defeat the charge. Third is identification and proof: surveillance footage, receipts, inventory records, and witness accounts all have gaps, and a motion to suppress may be available if a search or statement was improperly obtained.

Not every case ends at trial. Where the facts support it, a lawyer may negotiate for a reduction to petit theft, a diversion or deferred prosecution program, or a plea with no adjudication of guilt. Restitution is often part of those conversations. An adjudication matters a great deal later, because someone who has been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense cannot have the record expunged, while a case that ends without an adjudication may open the door to sealing or expunction through an FDLE certificate of eligibility. That makes the form of the resolution as important as the headline outcome.

Prior convictions also raise the stakes. Florida’s habitual offender law enhances sentences for people with two or more qualifying prior felonies, so a new felony theft charge on top of an existing record deserves immediate, careful handling.

Pasco County Grand Theft Questions, Answered

Is grand theft always a felony in Florida?

Yes. Every grand theft tier is a felony, from third-degree up through first-degree. Petit theft, below the $750 threshold, is generally a misdemeanor.

What is the maximum prison sentence for grand theft?

It depends on the degree. A third-degree felony carries up to 5 years, a second-degree felony up to 15 years, and a first-degree felony carries the higher range set for that class. Actual sentences depend on the facts, your record, and the scoring of your case.

What if the item was worth less than $750?

Usually that is petit theft, a misdemeanor. But certain property is grand theft regardless of price, including firearms and motor vehicles, and property of $40 or more taken from a dwelling or its curtilage is a felony.

How does the state decide the value of what was taken?

Prosecutors typically rely on retail price, fair market value, or documentation from the owner. Those numbers can be challenged, especially for used items, shared property, or goods whose price changed. A lower proven value can reduce the charge.

Do I need a lawyer if I plan to plead guilty?

Yes. The terms of a plea, including whether adjudication is withheld, whether restitution is required, and how the record is affected, shape your life long after the case ends. An attorney can often negotiate better terms than you can alone.

Can I be charged if I returned the property?

Returning the item does not erase the charge on its own. It can help in negotiations and on restitution, but the state may still prosecute, so speak with a lawyer before assuming the matter is over.

Can grand theft be sealed or expunged in Florida?

If you were adjudicated guilty, no. If the case ended in a dismissal, a no-file decision, or a withheld adjudication, you may qualify, provided you meet the rest of the statutory criteria. You need an FDLE certificate of eligibility, valid for 12 months, plus a certified statement from the state attorney.

What if my ex or a roommate accused me of stealing something we both used?

Shared property is a common source of weak theft cases. If you had a claim of right or permission, the state may struggle to prove criminal intent. Texts, receipts, and who paid for the item can be decisive.

Can a grand theft charge affect my job or professional license?

Often, yes. Theft is a dishonesty offense, and many employers and licensing boards treat it seriously. Resolving the case without a conviction, where possible, is frequently the most important goal for a working professional.

How long does a felony theft case take in Pasco County?

There is no fixed timeline. Cases that resolve early through a negotiated reduction can finish in a few months, while contested cases with valuation disputes, motions, or a trial setting take longer. Your attorney can give a realistic estimate once the evidence is reviewed.

Will a grand theft conviction affect my immigration status?

It can. Theft offenses may be classified as crimes of moral turpitude, and some sentences can create additional exposure. Anyone who is not a citizen should have immigration consequences reviewed before accepting any plea.

Serving Grand Theft Clients Across Pasco County and Tampa Bay

King Law Group defends theft cases throughout Pasco County, from New Port Richey, Port Richey, and Holiday in the west to Dade City, Zephyrhills, and San Antonio in the east. We also represent clients in Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Hudson, Odessa, Lutz, and Spring Hill, a community that straddles the Pasco and Hernando County line.

Beyond Pasco, we serve clients in neighboring Pinellas County, including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs, and in Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Wherever in the Tampa Bay area a grand theft charge is filed, the firm is prepared to take the call.

Talk to a Pasco County Grand Theft Attorney Today

A felony theft charge does not have to define your future, but the choices made early in the case often decide how it ends. A Pasco County grand theft attorney at King Law Group can review the valuation, the evidence of intent, and the options available to you, from a reduced charge to a dismissal. Call us for a free case evaluation, and we will tell you where your case stands and what comes next.