Charged with theft in Houston?Protect your record. Flat-fee defense.
A theft conviction in Texas — even shoplifting under $100 — creates a permanent criminal record that shows up on every background check. Employers, landlords, and professional licensing boards all see it. KVM Law Firm fights to keep theft charges off your record. Former police officer. Harris, Montgomery, and Galveston Counties.
A theft conviction shows up on every background check.
Under Texas Penal Code § 31.03, theft is the unlawful appropriation of property with intent to deprive the owner of it. The statute classifies offenses by the value of the property taken — and the penalties escalate quickly. What seems like a minor shoplifting charge can become a felony depending on the circumstances.
Even a Class C misdemeanor theft conviction is a crime of moral turpitude in Texas. That label matters: it triggers consequences in employment screening, professional licensing, immigration status, and credibility for any witness who ever takes the stand again. KVM Law Firm fights for dismissals, deferred adjudication, and pretrial diversion to keep the conviction off your record.
Texas theft penalties scale with value.
Tex. Penal Code § 31.03(e) classifies theft by value taken — from Class C misdemeanor to first-degree felony.
Fine only — but still a criminal record showing on background checks.
Up to 180 days in jail and fine up to $2,000.
Up to 1 year in jail and fine up to $4,000.
180 days to 2 years in state jail and fine up to $10,000.
2 to 10 years in prison and fine up to $10,000.
2 to 20 years in prison and fine up to $10,000.
5 to 99 years or life in prison and fine up to $10,000.
Prior theft convictions stack.
If you have two or more prior theft convictions, any subsequent theft — regardless of value — can be enhanced to a state jail felony. That means a Class C misdemeanor theft of a candy bar becomes a state jail felony charge with 180 days to 2 years of state jail exposure. Tex. Penal Code § 31.03(e)(4)(D).
The most common theft charge in Harris County.
Most shoplifting arrests rely heavily on loss prevention officer testimony and store surveillance footage. KVM Law Firm challenges all of it.
We attack the case on three fronts: the identification (is the person on the surveillance footage actually you?); the alleged intent to steal (was there genuine intent to deprive, or was it confusion, mistake, or distraction?); and the value of the merchandise (loss prevention often inflates the price tag value, and the statutory tier is highly sensitive to small dollar amounts).
In many cases, we are able to negotiate outcomes that keep a theft conviction off your permanent record:
For first-time offenders particularly, these outcomes are often achievable — if you have an attorney who negotiates from a position of preparation rather than just accepting the prosecutor’s first offer.
A former officer challenging the investigation.
Attorney Kenneth V. Mitchell handles all theft and property crime defense on a flat-fee basis in Harris, Montgomery, and Galveston Counties. As a former law enforcement officer with 13 years of experience, he brings firsthand knowledge to your defense — how investigators document property crimes, how store loss prevention works with police, and where the State’s case is most vulnerable.
Theft cases often turn on intent, identification, and valuation. Each of those elements is contestable — if your attorney knows where to push.
Theft defense across the greater Houston area.
Harris County
Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Katy, Cypress, Spring, Pearland, and surrounding communities.
Montgomery County
Conroe, The Woodlands, Spring, Willis, and surrounding areas.
Galveston County
Galveston, League City, Texas City, Friendswood, and surrounding Gulf coast areas.
Theft charge in Houston? Protect your record.
Free, confidential case review. Kenneth reviews every inquiry personally. The fine is the smallest part of a theft conviction — the record is the rest. Fight for dismissal, deferred adjudication, or diversion.