In Tennessee, shoplifting is typically defined as the theft of goods from a person or place of business, without the consent of the owner. Many times this involves concealing items and walking out of the business without paying for the goods.
It is also an offense to check out and pay for items if someone has altered the price, manipulated the goods or repackaged the items to avoid paying the entire price of the goods.
You can be arrested and charged with shoplifting whether you planned to steal something or if you unintentionally left a store without paying for the items.
James R. Owen and his team are here to develop a solid criminal defense and get you fair treatment in court.
Penalties for shoplifting range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the value of goods stolen and the way the crime was committed. For example, if the stolen goods include weapons or explosives, felony charges would be filed. Prosecutors will also look at the criminal record of the accused and if there is a pattern of theft convictions, the charges will be more severe.
Theft of property or services is:
- A Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services obtained is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less and carries a jail sentence up to eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days;
- A Class E felony if the value of the property or services obtained is more than one thousand dollars ($1,000)but less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) and carries a sentence up to six (6) years in prison;
- A Class D felony if the value of the property or services obtained is two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) or more but less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and carries a sentence up to twelve (12) years in prison;
- A Class C felony if the value of the property or services obtained is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more but less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) and carries a sentence up to fifteen (15) years in prison;
- A Class B felony if the value of the property or services obtained is sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or more but less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) and carries a sentence up to thirty (30) years in prison;
- A Class A felony if the value of the property or services obtained is two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or more and carries a sentence up to sixty (60) years in prison.
As your criminal defense team, we may get your charges dismissed through judicial diversion if you do not have a prior criminal record. If you can make restitution by returning the items or paying a required amount of money to the business, the charge could be removed from your record.
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