Facing any kind of criminal charge is a bad situation. In addition to the obvious threat of incarceration and financial penalty, charges can make it difficult to find employment and even preclude you from housing in some areas. This is certainly true if the judge finds you guilty; a conviction will show up on background checks and Google searches, and those consequences will follow you for your whole life.
Many people do not expect law enforcement to treat theft charges as seriously as they often do. The law considers any theft-related charge a crime of moral turpitude, which means that sentencing can be severe, even for a class C misdemeanor. Consider the following three types of theft.
1. Forgery
According to the Texas Constitution and Statutes Penal Code, forgery is any act in which a document or other significant artifact is falsified with deliberate intent to deceive. There are many forms that forgery can take, but regardless of the context, this charge can follow you forever if you do not fight to defend yourself. Consulting with an attorney can help you research your options.
2. Robbery
Much like forgery, robbery charges can be applied to a wide range of scenarios. You might be facing this charge in relation to a personal disagreement or alleged theft from a company. If a weapon was involved, you might even find yourself facing charges of armed robbery.
3. Theft by check
If you have ever had an overdrawn bank account, you know how easy it is to run out of money. It can become a crime, though, if checks are involved. If you knowingly write a check that bounces, you may find yourself facing theft by check charges. Theft by check refers to writing any check that you do not have the funds to cover. Of course, this can result from a range of situations, so researching your options is advisable. There are many ways to defend yourself against such charges when you have a dedicated legal representative to guide you.
