Orlando & Lake County Theft Penalties
The maximum penalty for a theft or shoplifting accusation depends on the value of the items taken:
If the value of the item taken was less than $100, then the offense will be charged with a simple petit theft, a misdemeanor of the second degree which is punishable by a maximum of sixty (60) days in the county jail, six (6) months of county-supervised probation, and a $500 fine plus court costs.
If the value of the item taken was more than $100 but less than $300, then the offense will be charged as a misdemeanor of the first degree which is punishable by a maximum of three hundred and sixty-four (364) days in the county jail, twelve (12) months of county-supervised probation, and a $1000 fine plus court costs.
If the value of the item taken was in excess of $750, then the offense can be charged with Felony Retail Theft, a third-degree felony. This level of offense is punishable by a maximum of five (5) years in the prison, five (5) years of state supervised probation, and a $5,000 fine plus court costs.
If the value of the item taken was in excess of $20,000, then the offense can be charged with Grand Theft > $20,000, a second-degree felony. This level of offense is punishable by a maximum of fifteen (15) years in the prison, fifteen (15) years of state supervised probation, and a $10,000 fine plus court costs.
If the value of the item taken was in excess of $100,000, then the offense can be charged with Grand Theft > $100,000, a first-degree felony. This level of offense is punishable by a maximum of thirty (30) years in the prison, thirty (30) years of state supervised probation, and a $10,000 fine plus court costs.
If an individual has ever been convicted of any two prior theft offenses, then the person can be charged with Felony Petit Theft (even if the value of the item was only $1), which is a third-degree felony This level of offense is punishable by a maximum of five (5) years in the prison, five (5) years of state supervised probation, and a $5,000 fine plus court costs.