What the State must prove in a Florida theft case, the 2024 changes, Negron and the 2026 Russell decision on value, retail theft and civil demand, the license myth, and Hillsborough diversion.
Continue reading ›From First DUI to Death Penalty
What the State must prove in a Florida theft case, the 2024 changes, Negron and the 2026 Russell decision on value, retail theft and civil demand, the license myth, and Hillsborough diversion.
Continue reading ›Key Takeaway: In Florida, the value of the stolen property is an element of grand theft that the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt — and testimony about what the property cost when it was purchased is not enough by itself. Value means the fair market value of the property at the time and…
Continue reading ›Fully rewritten and updated September 8, 2026. Yes — and it is a more serious charge than the theft itself. Under section 812.019, Florida Statutes, anyone who “traffics in, or endeavors to traffic in” property they knew or should have known was stolen commits dealing in stolen property, a second-degree felony punishable by up to…
Continue reading ›Fully rewritten and updated September 9, 2026. Breaking into a vending machine or parking meter in Florida is usually a misdemeanor, and it becomes a felony in four situations. Section 877.08, Florida Statutes, makes tampering with or damaging a coin-operated machine a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail, and makes doing…
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