A former Walmart employee faces charges of grand theft after he allegedly stole from the store. Authorities say he took more than $30,000. He’ll need a Saint Lucie County Criminal Lawyer in order to defend against serious criminal charges. Loss prevention agents at the store discovered and documented the theft.

The employee allegedly held a management position. They say that he worked in the Tire Lube and Express center of the store located in Fort Pierce. They say he made refunds for sales that didn’t ever happen. Allegedly, he used an accomplice to place the funds on a debit card. Then, he pocketed the money.

Most of these fraudulent transactions involved fake purchases of tires. The amounts were over $1,000 in each case. The man was able to carry out the thefts because of his manager’s access and authority to make refunds. He now needs a Fort Pierce criminal lawyer to defend him against more than twenty allegations of grand theft.

Theft occurs in Florida whenever a person misappropriates someone else’s property. They must either intend to benefit personally from the property or deprive the other person from their own, rightful use of the property. The seriousness of the offense depends on the value of the property stolen.

If you’re facing charges of grand theft, a Fort Pierce grand theft attorney can help you explore the defenses that may be available to you. There may be innocent explanations for what the police say looks like theft. You may have a right to access the property as an agent of the person who owns the property. You may have made an innocent mistake about your authority to use the property.

A theft conviction can bring serious consequences. You face significant time in jail. You may also have to pay restitution and court fines. In addition to penalties from the court, it might be much harder to find a job with a grand theft conviction on your record.

A grand theft criminal lawyer can offer advice on what to expect in your case. You may have viable defenses that make it smart to take the case to trial. Your attorney may be able to help you negotiate with the state’s attorney to dismiss the charges before trial. If the state makes a plea offer, your attorney can help you weigh the pros and cons. If you or someone you know is facing a grand theft charge, contact The Law Office of Jeffrey H. Garland, P.A. at 772.489.2200.