Theft & Fraud Lawyer
Cairns & Far North Queensland
You have been charged with stealing, fraud, or another dishonesty offence. You are thinking about your criminal record, your job, and what a dishonesty conviction means for your future. For many people in this situation, the criminal record is a bigger concern than the penalty itself. A dishonesty conviction can affect employment, professional registration, working with children clearances, and immigration status — long after the sentence is finished. What happens next depends on the charge, what the evidence actually shows, and how the matter is prepared for court.
Your Charge Determines What Happens Next
Dishonesty offences in Queensland are property offences under the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld). The charge you face — and the court that deals with it — depends on the nature of the alleged conduct, the value involved, and the relationship between you and the alleged victim. Stealing under the Criminal Code is the most common dishonesty charge in the Cairns Magistrates Court. It covers taking…
The Criminal Record Is Often the Real Concern
For many theft and fraud charges — particularly first offences involving lower values — imprisonment is unlikely. The real concern is the criminal record. A dishonesty conviction follows you differently from other types of offences. Employers, licensing bodies, and government agencies treat dishonesty convictions as relevant to trust and integrity. A conviction for shoplifting or minor fraud can…
When the Evidence Is the Question
Dishonesty charges often turn on what the evidence actually establishes — not what police have labelled the conduct. A charge of stealing as a clerk or servant carries higher penalties than simple stealing. Whether that characterisation is justified depends on the specific facts: what role you held, whether the property was in your possession by virtue of employment, and whether the prosecution…
Fixed Fees
- Stealing — Magistrates Court Plea — $2,100
- Theft from Employer, Higher-Value or Aggravated — $4,800
- Fraud — Magistrates Court Plea — $3,200
- Complex Fraud — $7,500