Theft Crimes Defense at the Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard, P.A.
Don't underestimate the importance of keeping your criminal record and reputation clear of crimes of dishonesty, as it can impact your credibility in court proceedings. A conviction for a petit theft charge can still be considered a crime of dishonesty for purposes of impeachment in a trial or hearing no matter what was alleged to have been taken. Theft crimes are considered crimes of dishonesty, including Worthless Check charges.
Theft crimes in Florida may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of what has been stolen.
Florida Evidence Code 90.610:
Conviction of certain crimes as impeachment.--
(1) A party may attack the credibility of any witness, including an accused, by evidence that the witness has been convicted of a crime if the crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of 1 year under the law under which the witness was convicted, or if the crime involved dishonesty or a false statement regardless of the punishment, with the following exceptions:
(a) Evidence of any such conviction is inadmissible in a civil trial if it is so remote in time as to have no bearing on the present character of the witness.
(b) Evidence of juvenile adjudications are inadmissible under this subsection.
(2) The pendency of an appeal or the granting of a pardon relating to such crime does not render evidence of the conviction from which the appeal was taken or for which the pardon was granted inadmissible. Evidence of the pendency of the appeal is admissible.
(3) Nothing in this section affects the admissibility of evidence under s. 90.404 or s. 90.608.
If you have been charged with a crime of dishonesty, it is important to find legal counsel that can help you make decisions about your options. You need counsel to take into consideration the lasting effects of a plea bargain, regardless of how seemingly beneficial a plea deal may seem at the time.
Call Maggie Jo Hilliard today to discuss your options: (904) 247-7600
The laws regarding theft crimes may be located by clicking here.