MCLENNAN COUNTY CHARGE GUIDE
Theft and Shoplifting Bail Bonds in Waco, TX
Theft is the most value-sensitive charge in the Penal Code, and priors can jump the grade regardless of what was taken. Chapman's Bail Bonds posts theft bonds at 254-855-9885.
The theft value ladder
Penal Code Section 31.03 grades theft almost entirely by the value of the property. Under $100 is a Class C misdemeanor, fine only up to $500. From $100 to $749 it is a Class B misdemeanor. From $750 to $2,499 it is a Class A misdemeanor. At $2,500 it crosses into felony territory as a state jail felony, and it stays there up to $29,999.
From $30,000 to $149,999 it is a third-degree felony. From $150,000 to $299,999 it is a second-degree felony. At $300,000 or more it is a first-degree felony carrying five to 99 years or life. A handful of items, including firearms, are felonies regardless of what they are worth.
- Under $100: Class C misdemeanor, fine only
- $100 to $749: Class B misdemeanor
- $750 to $2,499: Class A misdemeanor
- $2,500 to $29,999: state jail felony
- $30,000 and up: third degree and higher
Prior convictions move the grade
This is the part that surprises people arrested for shoplifting a small amount. A theft under $100 becomes a Class B misdemeanor if the defendant has any prior theft conviction of any grade. A theft of less than $2,500 becomes a state jail felony if the defendant has two or more prior theft convictions of any grade.
That means two old cases from a decade ago can turn a $60 case at a Waco store into a felony filing with a felony-sized bond and a district court setting. Enhancements based on the victim category, like theft from an elderly person or from a government entity, work the same way.
If a booking sheet shows a felony grade on a small-dollar theft, do not assume it is a clerical error. It usually is not, and it is a reason to get a defense attorney on the phone the same day.
How bond is set on a theft case
A magistrate has to make the bail decision within 48 hours of arrest under Article 17.028, choosing a personal bond, a surety or cash bond, or denial of bail where the constitution allows, and imposing the least restrictive conditions that reasonably assure appearance and safety. Article 17.15(a) requires consideration of the nature of the offense, your ability to make bail, community safety, and your criminal history including prior failures to appear.
On theft, criminal history is doing heavy work in both places at once. It sets the offense grade and it weighs on the bond amount. A first-time Class B theft and a third-strike state jail felony theft are not going to draw the same number.
Bond conditions and trespass notices
Theft bonds tend to be lighter on conditions than assault or DWI bonds, but Article 17.40 still lets a magistrate impose any reasonable condition related to community safety. A stay-away condition covering the store or property involved is common, and separately the retailer may have issued a criminal trespass notice at the scene, which creates its own exposure if it is ignored.
Restitution is a sentencing issue, not a bond issue. Do not try to make it right by contacting the store or the complaining witness directly while a case is pending. Route that through a lawyer.
Class C theft matters from inside Waco city limits may be handled at the Waco Municipal Court, 201 W. Waco Dr., 254-750-5900. Misdemeanor cases go to the County Courts at Law and felonies to the 19th or 54th District Court, all at 501 Washington Ave.
What the bond will cost
On a cash bond the full amount is deposited with the court and refunded after the bond conditions are satisfied, less any administrative fee. On a surety bond the premium is customarily around 10% of the bond, up to about 15% on higher-risk bonds, and it is not refundable.
Break 'Em Out Bail Bonds at 254-400-2663 is the alternative on this site when collateral terms need to be negotiated on a larger theft bond.
For a routine theft or shoplifting bond in McLennan County, call Chapman's Bail Bonds at 254-855-9885. They are at 700 E. Waco Dr., open 24/7/365, offer payment plans and free notary service, and guarantee the bail posted and paperwork turned in within 30 to 45 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
at what dollar amount does theft become a felony in Texas
At $2,500. Theft of property valued from $2,500 to $29,999 is a state jail felony under Penal Code 31.03. Below that it is a misdemeanor, unless a prior-conviction or victim-category enhancement applies.
can shoplifting be a felony with no prior record
Only if the value crosses $2,500 or the item itself is one the statute treats as a felony regardless of value, such as a firearm. Otherwise a first shoplifting case at a low dollar value is a misdemeanor.
how do two old theft cases make a new one a felony
Section 31.03 provides that a theft of less than $2,500 becomes a state jail felony when the defendant has two or more prior theft convictions of any grade. The property involved does not change; the prior convictions move the grade.
how much is a shoplifting bond in Waco
There is no fixed amount. A magistrate sets it individually using the Article 17.15(a) factors, so the grade, your record, and your ability to pay all matter. A bondsman can read the amount from the jail record once it is entered.
can I be released on my own recognizance for theft
It is possible on a low-level theft with no history, since Article 17.028 directs magistrates toward the least restrictive release. There is no guarantee, and a felony-graded theft with priors makes it much less likely.