Knoxville Shoplifting Crimes Defense Attorney

Strategically Defending Clients Accused of Shoplifting in Knoxville, TN’

Many people falsely assume that shoplifting is a minor theft offense with minor consequences. Contrary to this popular belief, shoplifting is taken seriously in Tennessee and prosecutors will pursue the harshest penalty possible for your alleged offense.

For context, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-103 defines the crime of theft as a person who knowingly obtains or exercises control over the owner’s property, without their effective consent, with the intent to deprive them of such property. In other words, if you knowingly take something that’s not yours, you can get a theft charge.

Theft offenses vary based on their nature and severity, with shoplifting being among the most common crime. As such, you must not fool yourself into believing that you will get “let off the hook” for your reported shoplifting crime. Instead, you must equip yourself with proven legal counsel and aggressive defense from the Law Office of Joseph A. Fanduzz right away.

To schedule your free consultation with our Knoxville shoplifting crimes defense lawyer, contact us online or call (865) 896-9971 today!

Elements of Shoplifting in TN

Shoplifting is defined as “the theft, by someone other than an employee of the victim, of goods or merchandise exposed for sale. This violation assumes the offender has legal access to the premises, and this, no trespass or unlawful entry was involved. This offense includes thefts of merchandise displayed as part of the stock in trade outside of buildings such as department stores, hardware stores, supermarkets, and fruit stands.

A person commits shoplifting if they knowingly commit any of the following acts:

• Conceal the merchandise
• Remove, possess or cause the removal of merchandise
• Alter, transfer or remove any price marking, or any other marking which aids in determining value affixed to the merchandise
• Transfer the merchandise from one container to another
• Cause the cash register or other sales recording device to reflect less than the merchant's stated price for the merchandise
• Remove, destroy, deactivate, or evade any component of an anti-shoplifting or inventory control device to commit or facilitate a theft
• Use any artifice, instrument, container, device, or other article to commit or facilitate a theft
• Activate or interfere with a fire alarm system to commit or facilitate a theft

If you get convicted of shoplifting in Tennessee, you could face the following charges:

• Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services obtained is $1,000 or less
• Class E felony if the value of the property or services obtained is more than $1,000 but less than $2,500
• Class D felony if the value of the property or services obtained is $2,500 or more but less than $10,000
• Class C felony if the value of the property or services obtained is $10,000 or more but less than $60,000
• Class B felony if the value of the property or services obtained is $60,000 or more but less than $250,000
• Class A felony if the value of the property or services obtained is $250,000 or more

Accused of shoplifting in Knoxville? You cannot let your charges affect your freedom and future, especially when it could potentially be prevented. It’s in your best interest to contact our Knoxville shoplifting crimes defense lawyer at (865) 896-9971 as soon as possible so we can get started on building an aggressive defense on your behalf.