(a) As used in this section:

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-14-129

  • Deprive: means to:
    (A) Withhold property from the owner permanently or for such a period of time as to substantially diminish the value or enjoyment of the property to the owner. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
(1) “Addressee” means the person to whom a piece of mail is addressed;
(2) “Curtilage” has the same meaning as defined in § 39-11-611; and
(3) “Mail” means a letter, postal card, package, bag, or other sealed article that:

(A) Is delivered by a common carrier or delivery service and not yet received by the addressee; or
(B) Has been left to be collected for delivery by a common carrier or delivery service.
(b) It is an offense to take mail from a residential mailbox or from the curtilage of a dwelling without the consent of the addressee and with the intent to deprive the addressee of the mail.
(c)

(1) A first offense of mail theft is punished as theft under § 39-14-105, after determining value under § 39-11-106.
(2) A second or subsequent offense of mail theft is punished as theft under § 39-14-105, after determining value under § 39-11-106. However, in no event shall punishment for a second or subsequent offense of mail theft be less than a Class E felony.