We know facing new charges of the failure to return leased property in South Florida can be tough, but the theft attorneys at Rossen Law Firm are here to lend a helping (and expert) hand and support you through this time.
What is the Failure to Return Leased Property?
Florida Law states that a Failure to Return Leased or Rented Property occurs where a defendant knowingly refuses to return the personal property back to the owner/victim at the conclusion of a lease or rental period. The accused knowingly does so without the permission of the property owner and in violation of the rental or lease agreement.
Find the legal definition of theft on our theft page.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE TO RETURN LEASED PROPERTY IN FORT LAUDERDALE
As an attorney can further eplain, the consequences of failure to return leased property in South Florida can get serious pretty quickly depending on the value of the alleged unreturned property.
If the stolen property is valued at less than $300, the crime of failure to return leased property is a second-degree misdemeanor. A second-degree misdemeanor carries consequences of up to 60 days in jail and fines of up to $500.
If the stolen property is valued at more than $300, the crime of failure to return leased property is a third-degree felony. A third-degree felony carries consequences of up to 5 years in jail and fines of up to $5,000.
FAILURE TO RETURN LEASED PROPERTY CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN SOUTH FLORIDA
If you’re facing a charge for the failure to return leased property in South Florida, our attorneys are here and will be by your side through this challenging time. Rossen Law Firm has extensive experience in all types of theft and our team has mastered the defense for every type. We can guarantee that we will work as hard as we can to get you the best result for your case.
Please, do not hesitate to call our office if you are facing the theft charge of the failure to return leased property in Fort Lauderdale. We are here to listen, not judge, answer any burning questions that we know you will have, and discuss our plan of action to achieve an amazing outcome for your case. We believe that bad things can happen to good people and a mistake shouldn’t have the ability to ruin your life – and we’ll fight to make sure it doesn’t.
Failure to Return Leased Property Defenses
- Consent Defense: The criminal defense of consent can be used if the property owner or renter gave or implied consent to the accused. If you believe you were given permission verbally to use the property for an extended period of time and are being accused for failure to return leased property, Rossen Law Firm can use the defense of consent to serve as a complete defense to the crime of failure to return leased property.
- Intent Defense: One of the elements that the State needs to prove to find the defendant guilty of a failure to return leased property is that they knowingly refused to return the property once the agreement was “up” or ended. Without enough evidence to prove that the failure to return the property was intentional, a criminal conviction cannot take place.
- Improper Notice Defense: If the owner or renter of the stolen property failed to properly notify the accused of the demand of the property return, the defense of improper notice can be used. Florida Law states that if the property owner fails to provide the proper notice in the rental or lease agreement, then the prosecution for the crime cannot be brought.
Free Failure to Return Leased Property Criminal Defense Strategy Session in South Florida
We handle every type of criminal charges including the failure to return leased property and any kind of theft charge. We put all our efforts together and use personalized and detail-oriented defense strategies for your criminal charges. We want our clients to know and understand the mechanisms we use to defend them.
We offer FREE strategy sessions to discuss the various strategic methods we use to achieve the best outcome for your case.
HOW WE WIN THEFT CASES IN FLORIDA
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