Theft Case Results in Austin, TX

Charge

Theft - Misdemeanor

Location

Travis County, County Court at Law #8

Allegations

Loss prevention detained our client after a shoplifting accusation, reported a brief struggle, and the client left before officers arrived. We engaged early, obtained the incident reports, and clarified what actually happened during the attempted detention. Our focus was keeping the case on the underlying misdemeanor theft and addressing concerns raised by the confrontation. We opened negotiations, emphasized accountability and cooperation, and pressed for a non-conviction resolution. The prosecutor agreed to deferred probation, keeping a conviction off the client's record while they complete the terms.

Charge

Misdemeanor Theft

Allegations

The client was arrested on a warrant that was issued for an attempted theft charge in 2013. The client was completely unaware of the outstanding warrant or charges. The client had two prior convictions, one for marijuana possession in 1994 and the other for assault family violence in 2000.

Charge

Burglary

Location

Williamson County, DC368

Allegations

Police accused our client of burglarizing a storage unit after he went there with a companion and property was removed. From the start he said he believed they were going to the companion’s unit and that he had permission to be there. We gathered the companion’s account to support that explanation and compared it against the reports and statements for proof of intent. The record showed real questions about what our client knew. We used those issues to press the prosecutor, who agreed to reduce the case to a lesser offense with credit for time served.

Charge

Theft (Misdemeanor)

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #2

Allegations

Police alleged our client committed misdemeanor theft after personal items left behind by a former roommate were sold at a pawn shop. We gathered paperwork from the shop, collected character letters, and had the client complete theft education and a cognitive skills course. We engaged the prosecutor, confirmed the property was returned to the complainant, and addressed restitution issues. With proof of return and mitigation in the file, we pressed for dismissal. The state agreed and the case was dismissed.

Charge

Robbery

Location

Williamson County, 277th District Court

Allegations

The case began as a robbery after a store incident. The individual left with a small amount of merchandise, returned it, then tried to drive away. A staff member grabbed onto the vehicle and was briefly dragged, and another reported a minor injury when the car door opened. We reviewed the reports and available video, which covered only the interior, and emphasized there were no threats or weapon and that any injury resulted from the attempted stop. Leveraging those weaknesses, we negotiated a reduction to a misdemeanor and removed the felony from consideration.