Shoplifting Attorney in Chattanooga

60+ Years of Combined Experience Defending Theft Charges in Hamilton County

Tennessee doesn’t have a standalone shoplifting offense with its own separate penalties. When you’re charged with shoplifting in Chattanooga, you’re charged under the state’s general theft statute, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-14-103, and the full range of Tennessee theft penalties applies. What looks like a minor retail incident can carry consequences well beyond a fine. We defend shoplifting charges throughout Hamilton County, in both General Sessions Court and Hamilton County Criminal Court, depending on how the charge is classified.

Our defense is built around the specific facts of your case. We don’t apply a generic strategy and move on.

Contact Abbott, Weiss, Faith & Darnell, PLLC for a free case evaluation. Call (423) 264-2206 or reach us through our online contact form.

When a Dollar Changes Everything: Misdemeanor vs. Felony

Under Tennessee law, merchandise valued at $1,000 or less is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and fines up to $2,500. Once the value crosses $1,000, the charge becomes a felony. That threshold matters enormously, because a felony conviction creates a permanent record that can affect employment, housing, and professional licensing in ways a misdemeanor won’t.

Retailers don’t always value merchandise at fair market value. We independently verify the value of items involved in every case, because the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony can come down to a single dollar. Depending on the circumstances, outcomes can include probation, fines, restitution, or pretrial diversion rather than jail time.

How We Approach Shoplifting Defense

The prosecution must prove that you knowingly obtained or exercised control over merchandise with intent to deprive the owner. Intent is a legal element they have to establish, and it’s often where the defense lives. We examine the evidence with that burden in mind.

• Surveillance footage review: We carefully review video to confirm whether the person depicted is actually our client and whether the actions shown constitute theft rather than an accident or misunderstanding.
• Merchandise valuation challenges: We independently verify fair market value to contest how a charge is classified and, in some cases, whether a felony threshold is truly met.
• Circumstances of the stop or detention: Tennessee’s merchant detention privilege allows store personnel to detain a suspected shoplifter for a reasonable period and in a reasonable manner. How that detention was conducted can be relevant to the defense.
• Situational factors: We handle cases where a client was unaware that another person placed merchandise in their bag, where intent was absent, or where procedural errors occurred during the arrest.

Chattanooga Shoplifting Defense Backed by Recognized Attorneys

Our firm brings more than 60 years of combined legal experience in criminal defense and civil litigation. That depth of experience means we know Hamilton County courts, we know how theft charges are prosecuted, and we know how to build a defense grounded in the actual evidence.

Our attorneys have been recognized by their professional peers. Barry L. Abbott was selected to the Super Lawyers list for 2023–2024. Joshua P. Weiss has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year from 2021 through 2025. Brittany Faith has held Rising Star recognition since 2017 and carries a 10.0 Superb Rating from Avvo. Zachery Darnell was named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2022–2023.

We provide honest assessments and realistic expectations. We won’t tell you what you want to hear, but we can explain every option available to you and respond promptly when you have questions.

Start with a Free Case Evaluation

A shoplifting charge in Chattanooga deserves a defense built around your specific circumstances. Call Abbott, Weiss, Faith & Darnell, PLLC at (423) 264-2206 or contact us through our online form to schedule your free case evaluation.