Grand Theft Attorney in St. Augustine

More Than 85 Years of Combined Experience Behind Your Grand Theft Defense

A felony theft charge is a serious accusation, but the charge alone doesn’t establish what happened. Property value, ownership, authorization, identification, and alleged intent can determine the offense level and shape the defense. We examine each issue rather than accepting the initial account at face value.

Canan Law has handled criminal defense matters in St. Augustine and Northeast Florida for more than three decades. If you’re under investigation or have been arrested, avoid discussing the allegations with investigators or third parties before you understand your right to counsel and how your statements could be used.

How Florida Classifies Felony Theft

Florida Statutes section 812.014 classifies the offense according to the property’s value, its type, and the circumstances of the alleged taking.

The primary value-based classifications are:

• Grand theft third degree: Property valued at $750 or more but less than $20,000
• Grand theft second degree: Property valued at $20,000 or more but less than $100,000
• Grand theft first degree: Property valued at $100,000 or more

A third-degree felony can carry up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A second-degree felony can carry up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while a first-degree felony can carry up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Any potential sentence depends on the filed charge, criminal history, applicable sentencing rules, and facts of the case.

Value isn’t the only consideration. Florida law separately classifies theft involving certain property, including a firearm, motor vehicle, will, or property taken from a dwelling. Cargo, emergency medical equipment, law enforcement equipment, damage caused during the alleged offense, theft from older adults, and property taken from multiple dwellings can also affect the felony degree.

What the Prosecution Must Prove

Florida theft law generally requires proof that a person knowingly obtained or used someone else’s property with the intent to deprive the owner of a right or benefit or appropriate the property for an unauthorized use. This intent may be disputed when the circumstances point to a misunderstanding, failed transaction, ownership disagreement, or recordkeeping error rather than an intentional taking.

Our review may examine disputes involving:

• Ownership: Whether the property belonged to another person and whether competing ownership claims exist.
• Authorization: Whether the accused had permission to possess, move, sell, or use the property.
• Intent: Whether the evidence supports an intentional taking rather than a misunderstanding, failed transaction, or recordkeeping error.
• Identification: Whether witnesses, surveillance footage, or digital evidence correctly identify the accused.
• Valuation: Whether the prosecution used reliable evidence to place the property within the charged felony degree.

Property valuation may require more than a receipt or an owner’s estimate. Purchase records, market evidence, age, condition, ownership documents, and the relevant valuation date can all matter. A supported value below $750 could affect whether the allegation qualifies as felony theft or petit theft, although property-specific exceptions may still apply.

Building an Evidence-Based Defense

We take a deliberate approach to felony criminal defense. Depending on the allegation, our attorneys may examine police reports, body-camera recordings, surveillance footage, electronic communications, receipts, financial records, ownership documents, witness accounts, and statements attributed to the accused.

Evidence must be tested, not merely collected. We assess whether it was lawfully obtained, accurately preserved, interpreted in context, and sufficient to prove each required element. We also distinguish direct evidence from assumptions, hearsay, incomplete records, and disputed accounts.

A defense strategy may involve challenging intent or identification, disputing the property valuation, contesting the admissibility of evidence, negotiating with the prosecution, or preparing for trial. The appropriate course depends on the evidence, procedural stage, prior record, and client’s objectives.

Felony Proceedings in St. Augustine & St. Johns County

St. Johns County is part of Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, along with Flagler, Putnam, and Volusia Counties. Felony criminal cases generally proceed at the circuit court level in Florida.

Our attorneys are licensed to practice in Florida state courts and are familiar with the courts, judges, and prosecutors serving Northeast Florida. This local knowledge informs how we evaluate court procedures, manage deadlines, and prepare for each stage of the case.

A Coordinated Criminal Defense Team

Together, our six attorneys bring more than 85 years of combined practice experience to our clients’ cases. We collaborate on strategy, test legal and factual theories, and prepare for the possibility of trial rather than treating a quick resolution as the only objective. Across our practice areas, our attorneys have handled more than 250 jury trials.

Founding attorney and managing partner Patrick T. Canan leads the firm. He was named a Certified Court Mediator by the Florida Supreme Court in 2002. Throughout a criminal case, we maintain clear communication so that our strategy reflects the client’s concerns, priorities, and circumstances.

Protect Your Position Before the Case Moves Forward

Preserve court notices, police paperwork, relevant messages, receipts, ownership records, and a clear chronology of events. Don’t delete or alter potentially relevant information, and continue following all release conditions and court requirements. Bring the available materials to your attorney so they can assess the accusation and evidence in context.

Our attorneys can identify the evidence supporting the felony degree, examine weaknesses in the prosecution’s allegations, and discuss a strategy tailored to your circumstances.