1. Theft is considered a crime of moral turpitude. It is a legal term of art which has no statutory definition but courts have ruled that theft IS a crime of moral turpitude.
Conviction of a crime of moral turpitude can be used against a witness for 10 years after conviction or release from confinement (whichever is later) in any proceeding to discredit their testimony. This means that if you are convicted of, for example, misdemeanor theft, the conviction can be used against you in a completely unrelated case like a divorce or custody hearing, for the next 10 years to discredit your testimony by showing that you are a dishonest person.
Federal statutes use the term "Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude" to indicate crimes which can can cause a non-citizen resident alien to become eligible for deportation. The Federal statutes don't give a list of these crimes, but it appears to mean the same types of crimes as the State. If you are a non-citizen resident alien and you have been charged with an offense which may be considered a crime of moral turpitude a conviction could result in denial of admission to the country.
2. A theft conviction is on your record for life. Many people think a conviction is on your record in the same way as a bad credit report. They are wrong.
3. If you get deferred adjudication, the theft offense still shows up on your record...for life. You need to follow up a successful deferred adjudication with a Petition for Nondisclosure. A Petition for Nondisclosure makes your record hidden from the public. Law enforcement can still see it.
4. If you were an employee and you stole from your employer, the District Attorney will usually not offer Deferred Adjudication and you may have to argue your case before the judge.
5. Brazoria County Theft Attorney Andy Nolen has noticed that many people want to "get the case over as quickly as possible". If your convicted, your case will never end, it will be on your record for life and you will be discussing it at every job interview you have from now on.
Brazoria County Theft Lawyer Andy Nolen has 20 years experience, has had over 3000 clients, and has had hundreds of cases dismissed. If you have been charged with any kind of theft case, please call Brazoria County Theft Attorney Andy Nolen at 832-480-8951 for a free consultation.
