On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
When people think about felony charges, things like murder, robbery, assault, and rape likely come to mind. However, in Florida, there are many different criminal charges that can be charged as a felony — including shoplifting.
Recently, three Miami residents were charged with felony theft charges following a trip to a Walmart in Okeechobee. According to police, a search of the car the three was driving revealed a variety of items including perfumes, children’s toys, bedsheets, and electronics following a six-minute trip inside the store. In total, police say that $967.24 worth of merchandise was found. However, police say that no receipts were found for any of the merchandise.
In addition to the search of the car, police also searched the three individuals. During that search, police claim that they found that the 50-year-old woman in the group had $467 on her person, while the 48-year-old woman had $2,060.10 with her. Following the search, police confiscated this money because neither woman has any source of income. Police, therefore, concluded that the money was obtained through their illegal activity. The 21-year-old man who was with the woman did not have any cash.
Each of the individuals was arrested and the bond was set around $5,000. Each of the three people has since been released after posting bond.
Felony charges — of any kind — need to be taken seriously in Florida. These charges can lead to fines, restitution, probation, and prison time. If found guilty of felony charges, people can also lose their right to own a firearm or to vote. Convicted felons may also find that they have a hard time finding reliable employment and housing following their release from prison.
In some circumstances, these penalties can be avoided. With the right defense, people can get felony charges reduced or eliminated.
When you need a Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney, you can contact us by calling 954-533-2756 for a free consultation.
Okeechobee News, “Miami trio charged in store theft in Okeechobee Walmart,” Eric Kopp, Dec. 17, 2013