If you are facing charges of larceny or theft in Knoxville, you might be under the impression there is not much you can do to fight them. The penalties are harsh and can have a long-lasting impact on your life, long after you have paid your debt to society. Though there may be strong evidence in the case against you, it is still possible to build a good defense against theft and larceny charges.

There are a variety of defense tactics your attorney can use to help you get a lighter sentence and possibly dismiss the theft charges. Here is a brief overview of two that might apply to your case.

1. Ownership

There is the possibility that you were trying to take back property you believed rightfully belonged to you. Keep in mind that you cannot simply make that claim. You must have supporting evidence to prove it.

2. Borrowing or had the intent to return

Maybe you never meant to take or steal the property you allegedly took unlawfully. This defense tactic only works if you can prove you were only going to borrow the property that you allegedly took. Having the intent to return stolen items is not enough to warrant a dismissal of charges, but it can help in getting your charges and sentence reduced.

3. Intoxication

If there was alcohol involved, a possible defense claim is you were too drunk to recognize that you were taking something that supposedly did not belong to you. Depending on the facts of your case and your overall defense strategy, this claim can result in the dismissal of the charges.

In order to determine the best defense for your situation, your attorney must know all the details as to what led to someone accusing you of theft. Though you may feel apprehensive about sharing information on your recollection of events, they can provide your attorney the information he or she needs to gain a more favorable outcome.