PETIT THEFT — SECOND DEGREE (F.S. § 812.014(3)(a)) — DIVERSION COMPLETED
PRETRIAL DIVERSION (PTD) — CASE DISMISSED (NOLLE PROSEQUI)
Escambia County, FL
May 1, 2026
Client was charged in Escambia County with Petit Theft — Second Degree, First Offense (F.S. § 812.014(3)(a)), a second-degree misdemeanor carrying up to 60 days in the county jail and up to a $500 fine. While the direct sentencing exposure was relatively modest, theft convictions in Florida create uniquely damaging long-term consequences. Theft is a crime of dishonesty, which means it is treated more harshly than nearly any other misdemeanor by employment screening services, professional licensing boards, landlords, and immigration authorities. Many employers automatically disqualify applicants with any theft-related conviction on their record, regardless of the underlying facts or how long ago the offense occurred. The client — [REDACTED] — could not afford a permanent conviction for a crime of dishonesty that would surface in every future background check, particularly given the long-term professional and personal goals at stake.
The defense team moved quickly to identify a diversion path. We secured a Pretrial Diversion (PTD) referral early in the case and worked with the client to satisfy the program's preconditions — including completion of an anti-theft course — before the next court date so that the resolution could be presented to the court on the earliest available motion day. Through coordination with the State Attorney's Office and the PTD office, we secured the client's entry into the Pretrial Diversion program. Upon successful completion, the State Attorney's Office entered a Nolle Prosequi, dismissing the charge entirely. The client emerged with no conviction, no jail time, no probation, and full eligibility to seal or expunge the arrest record under Florida law — preserving employment, housing, and licensing prospects without the lifelong stigma of a theft conviction. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case depends on its facts and circumstances.