Grand Theft Lawyer in Melbourne, FL

Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists Defending Felony Theft Charges in Brevard County

A grand theft charge in Florida is a felony from the first arrest. Under Florida Statute 812.014, any theft involving property valued at $750 or more triggers felony exposure, and the consequences reach far beyond fines and jail time. At Funk, Szachacz & Diamond, every attorney on our team holds Florida Bar Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law, a credential fewer than one percent of Florida lawyers carry. When your future is on the line, that distinction matters.

We bring something else to a grand theft defense: former Assistant State Attorneys and Felony Division Chiefs who know how Brevard County prosecutors build these cases. That prosecutorial background, combined with our collaborative three-attorney approach, means all three partners review strategy on every file. We’ve served as lead counsel in thousands of cases and hundreds of jury trials, from local felonies through complex federal indictments.

Facing a grand theft charge in Melbourne or anywhere in Brevard County? Call Funk, Szachacz & Diamond now at (321) 360-4446 to discuss your case.

Grand Theft Charges Under Florida Statute 812.014

Florida law defines grand theft as knowingly obtaining or using another person’s property with intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner, where that property is valued at $750 or more. The statute divides felony theft into three degrees based primarily on the value of the property taken, though certain item types trigger felony status regardless of value.

The three degrees carry the following maximum penalties:

Third-Degree Grand Theft: Property valued between $750 and less than $20,000. Third-degree felony, up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Second-Degree Grand Theft: Property valued between $20,000 and less than $100,000. Also applies to cargo valued at less than $50,000 in interstate or intrastate commerce, emergency medical equipment valued at $300 or more taken from a licensed medical facility or permitted aircraft or vehicle, and law enforcement equipment valued at $300 or more taken from an authorized emergency vehicle. Second-degree felony, up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
First-Degree Grand Theft: Property valued at $100,000 or more, or cargo valued at $50,000 or more in interstate or intrastate commerce. First-degree felony, up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

A motor vehicle, firearm, or will may qualify as third-degree grand theft regardless of its stated value. Coordinating others to commit theft where the total stolen property exceeds $3,000 elevates the charge to a second-degree felony under Florida Statute 812.014(6). To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you knowingly took the property, that it belonged to another, and that you intended to deprive the owner. Each of those elements is a potential point of challenge.

Why Board Certification Matters for a Melbourne Grand Theft Defense

Florida Bar Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law is the highest recognition the Florida Bar awards in a specific practice area. Earning it requires handling at least 25 contested criminal cases, with 20 jury trials tried to a verdict, at least 15 involving felony charges and 10 as lead counsel, along with a rigorous written examination and peer review. Certification must be renewed every five years. At Funk, Szachacz & Diamond, every attorney on staff has met that standard, not just one partner.

Trial Experience & Case Results

That distinction relates directly to your defense. Our attorneys have litigated cases ranging from straightforward felony matters to an acquittal on 166 counts of federal fraud, a result that reflects the kind of high-volume felony trial capability that complex theft cases can demand. We’ve represented judges, doctors, and law enforcement officers, clients for whom professional license protection is often as urgent as avoiding incarceration.

Credentials & Court Admissions

Members of our firm have served on the Florida Bar’s Board Certification Committee for Criminal Trial Law and have received the Brevard County Bar Association Professionalism Award and Trial Attorney of the Year honors. Our attorneys are admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts, several U.S. District Courts, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Talk to a Grand Theft Attorney in Melbourne Today

Time matters after an arrest. Early intervention can affect charging decisions, bond hearings, and how evidence is preserved and challenged. The sooner we can review the facts of your case, the more options we can put to work for you.

Funk, Szachacz & Diamond serves clients throughout Brevard County and the Space Coast, including Melbourne, Palm Bay, Merritt Island, Rockledge, and Viera West. Reach us by phone at (321) 360-4446 or through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.

Grand Theft Defense Strategies in Florida

Every grand theft case turns on specific facts, and the right defense depends on where the prosecution’s case has gaps. Florida law requires the state to prove criminal intent, ownership, and the act of taking beyond a reasonable doubt. Any one of those elements, challenged successfully, can affect the outcome.

Common defense approaches in Florida grand theft cases include:

Lack of Criminal Intent: If you didn’t intend to permanently or temporarily deprive the owner of their property, the core element of the charge is missing.
Property Value Dispute: Victims frequently overestimate the value of stolen items. Reducing the appraised value can lower the charge from first- or second-degree grand theft to a lesser degree, or even to petit theft.
Mistake of Fact or Ownership: A genuine, good-faith belief that the property was yours or that you had a right to possess it is a recognized defense under Florida law.
Consent: Evidence that the property owner permitted you to take or use the property directly negates the unlawful-taking element.
Mistaken Identity: Eyewitness misidentification and low-quality surveillance footage are common problems in theft prosecutions.
Alibi: Placing you somewhere else at the time of the alleged theft challenges the prosecution’s timeline.
Entrapment: If law enforcement induced you to commit a theft you wouldn’t otherwise have committed, entrapment may be a viable defense.
Suppression of Evidence: Evidence obtained through an unlawful search or seizure may be excluded through a pretrial motion to suppress.
Pretrial Diversion: First-time, non-violent offenders may qualify for a pretrial intervention program in Brevard County. Successful completion can result in charges being dropped.

Collateral Consequences of a Grand Theft Conviction

The statutory penalties for grand theft are significant, but they don’t capture the full cost of a conviction. A felony theft crimes record follows you into nearly every area of life that matters.

Employment & Professional Licensing

Theft is classified as a crime of dishonesty under Florida law. Employers can ask about crimes of dishonesty on job applications, and a conviction will appear on background checks. In licensed professions including healthcare, law, finance, real estate, and contracting, a grand theft conviction may trigger license denial, suspension, or revocation by the relevant regulatory board.

Civil, Financial & Immigration Exposure

Theft victims can pursue civil remedies alongside criminal prosecution, meaning a convicted defendant may face liability exceeding the actual value of the property plus the victim’s attorney fees. For non-citizens, a grand theft conviction can trigger removal proceedings or visa denial. A felony conviction also results in the loss of the right to possess firearms under both Florida and federal law, and landlords and lenders routinely conduct background checks that will surface a felony theft record.

Sealing or expungement may be available in limited circumstances depending on the case outcome and the defendant’s prior record, but eligibility is narrow and not guaranteed.

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Our Case Results

From murder charges to alleged fraud, our case successes speak for themselves. Our clients themselves testify to the premium care that our firm holds as a standard for all of our cases.

Dismissed 6 felony counts of Performing Lewd Acts Upon a Minor
Dismissed Lewd & Lascivious Battery
Not convicted of any crime. Trafficking
Dismissed 6 counts of Possession of Hydrocodone.
Dismissed Trafficking in Cannabis and Cultivation of Cannabis.

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Why Choose Us? Every Case Gets the Same Attention

Exceptional Track Record

Our team has an undeniable track record of success.
Ethical Criminal Representation

We do not cut corners. Every case is handled with the utmost integrity and complete honesty.
Experienced Professionals

All of our attorneys are Certified by the Florida Bar, making them an all certified criminal defense team.