Grand Theft Lawyer in Jacksonville

Board-Certified Defense for Jacksonville Grand Theft Charges

I defend people accused of grand theft by examining whether the State can prove every element of the charge. Through Mitchell A. Stone, P.A., I handle felony theft and grand theft auto cases for clients in Jacksonville, Duval County, and across Northeast Florida.

I’m a board-certified criminal trial lawyer in Florida with 35 years of experience in criminal courts. I also served as the 33rd President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. That background informs a defense focused on the evidence, the applicable theft statute, and the prosecution’s burden of proof.

Call me at (904) 263-5005 to discuss a grand theft allegation and the next steps in your defense.

How Florida Classifies Grand Theft Charges

Under Florida law, theft involves knowingly obtaining, using, or attempting to obtain or use another person’s property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner of a right to it or a benefit from it. The definition also covers intending to appropriate the property for an unauthorized use. The State must prove this intent, not merely show that a dispute over property occurred.

Lower-level allegations may be charged as petit theft. Grand theft is a felony, and its degree ordinarily depends on the alleged property value or the type of property involved.

Florida’s verified value classifications include:

• Grand theft in the third degree: Property valued at $750 or more but less than $20,000. This felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
• Grand theft in the second degree: Property valued at $20,000 or more but less than $100,000.
• Grand theft in the first degree: Property valued at $100,000 or more.

Property valuation is more than a background detail. When the alleged value determines the felony degree, I examine the records, testimony, and other evidence offered to establish that amount.

When Property or Circumstances Elevate the Charge

Florida’s theft classifications don’t depend exclusively on ordinary value thresholds. Certain property types and alleged circumstances can elevate a charge even when the property has a lower monetary value.

Statutory categories that can affect the charge include:

• A firearm: Theft of a firearm is grand theft regardless of the firearm’s value.
• A motor vehicle: Theft of a motor vehicle is grand theft in the third degree regardless of its value.
• A controlled substance: Theft involving any amount of a controlled substance can be charged as grand theft.
• Specified property: Theft of a stop sign, property from a designated construction site, or a will or other testamentary instrument can be grand theft regardless of value.
• Vehicle-related damage: A charge can become grand theft in the first degree when a motor vehicle is used as an instrumentality, meaning a means of carrying out the theft, that damages another person’s real property, or when the theft otherwise causes more than $1,000 in damage to another person’s real or personal property.

Prior convictions can also change the charge level. Two or more prior theft convictions can elevate a new petit theft offense to a third-degree felony, making an accurate review of the person’s record important.

How I Examine the State’s Case

I wrote a published treatise on defending property crimes in Florida. I use that knowledge to test the allegation against the elements the State must prove and explore every possible defense to help my client avoid a conviction.

A defense can involve examining intent, ownership, and the evidence connecting the accused to the alleged taking. I also consider whether another person had an ownership or possessory interest, which is a lawful right to possess the property, and whether the prosecution’s valuation supports the charged felony degree.

My evidence review may address:

• Whether the available evidence proves an intent to deprive or appropriate.
• Whether records and testimony establish ownership and the alleged property value.
• Whether witness accounts, documents, recordings, or physical evidence connect the accused to the alleged conduct.
• Whether deficiencies in the investigation or proof undermine a required element.

I have identified deficiencies in State cases that resulted in theft charges being dismissed or reduced, although each case depends on its evidence and procedural posture.

My past defense work includes:

• Major felony theft allegations
• Alleged organized theft rings
• Stolen-car chop shops
• Fencing operations involving stolen property
• Weapon offenses connected to theft accusations

Grand Theft Cases in Jacksonville Courts

Felony grand theft cases in Duval County are filed and heard in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit at the Duval County Courthouse. Petit theft misdemeanors are heard in County Court instead. Identifying the charge level clarifies which court has jurisdiction over the case.

Early defense review includes determining the alleged felony degree, examining the available allegations and evidence, and tracking the case’s procedural status. I take theft and property crime cases throughout Northeast Florida and work to identify factual and legal issues before assumptions about the accusation harden into the prosecution’s case theory.

Discuss Your Grand Theft Charge with Me

I offer a free initial consultation for theft and property crime charges. You can explain what happened and ask questions about the accusation and next steps. Payment plans are available.

When you contact Mitchell A. Stone, P.A., I will provide an initial assessment of the issues that may need immediate attention and explain how I would approach the State’s evidence. No initial conversation can promise a particular outcome.

Call (904) 263-5005 or use the contact form to discuss your grand theft charge.