Under Texas law, theft is defined as taking the property of another person without that person's consent and with the intent of depriving the owner of the property. In other words, theft is a legal term for stealing. If the value of the property is less than $1,500, then the theft is classified as a misdemeanor, while if the value of the stolen property is $1,500 or more, then the crime will be considered a felony.
If convicted of felony theft, there is a good chance that the judge will sentence you to prison. Even if you are not sentenced to prison you may have to pay a fine, and you will have a permanent criminal record. To try to avoid the harsh consequences of being convicted of theft, you should contact an experienced Houston theft lawyer who understands how the criminal justice system in Houston works and who will aggressively defend you throughout your case.
At your first meeting with a theft lawyer in Houston Texas, there are 5 questions that it is important that you ask.
Experience
1. How long have you been practicing law? It is important that you are represented by someone with experience. Providing an effective defense requires not only an understanding of the nuances of Texas' criminal code, but also an understanding of criminal procedure and the Houston criminal court system. The only way to acquire such a true understanding of Texas criminal law and procedure is through experience.
2. Do you have experience representing clients in theft cases? Once you have established that the attorney has practiced criminal law for a significant amount of time, you should then confirm that he or she also has experience handling theft cases. This would mean that the attorney has a familiarly with how to interpret the details of the Texas theft statute as well as how to apply defenses.
Managing My Case
3. What will your approach be to resolving my case? There may be options for resolving your case outside of going to trial or simply entering a plea. Find out if the lawyer tends toward employing creative ways to resolving criminal matters.
4. What are the possible outcomes of my case? During the first meeting with a theft lawyer, you will explain to the lawyer the events that led to you facing a theft charge, whether it be a Houston shoplifting crime or robbery accusation. Based on those details, the lawyer should be able to give you a general idea as to the possible outcomes of your case, including plea options, the likely outcome of a trial, and if convicted, the likely sentence.
Fee
5. What will you charge for defending me? It is important to know up front if you will be able to afford to pay your lawyer. Ask for an estimate as to how much the lawyer will charge and the factors that will affect the fee. For example, if your case goes to trial the fee will likely be more than if your case is resolved in some other manner.
If these important issues are clarified at the initial meeting, you will have a more successful working relationship with a theft lawyer in Houston such as Lisa Shapiro Strauss Attorney at Law. If you are satisfied with the answers you receive, you can move forward with confidence that you have selected the right Houston theft lawyer to represent you.
