Charged With Grand Theft Auto? Common Defenses To This Crime
If you are charged with a crime, a criminal defense firm will work to get the charges against you reduced, dismissed, or try to convince a judge or jury that you are innocent, using common defenses can help them to fight the charges you are facing. If you are charged with grand theft auto, or stealing an automobile, you may be wondering what defense can be used for this crime. Here are some of the defenses that a criminal defense attorney may use in your case.
You Thought the Car Belonged to You
One of the defenses to grand theft auto is that you genuinely believed that the car belonged to you or someone who granted you permission to use their car.
For example, if you were borrowing your girlfriend's car for the day, walked out of work, and drove off in someone's else car that looked the same, you may be able to argue that you genuinely did not intend to steal the car and thought that it was your car or the car you were using for the day.
This is becoming more common as people use automatic door openers that may open similar makes and models of cars. As such, you may be tired and think you are getting into your car, not realizing it is not your car unless you are pulled over.
You Had Permission to Drive the Car
Another common defense to grand theft auto is that you had permission to drive the car. If you have permission to drive an automobile, it is not grand theft. It can be hard to prove you had permission, as most people give verbal permission, but it is a defense to grand theft auto.
You Were Not Intending to Steal the Car
The final defense to grand theft auto is to argue that you were not intending to steal the car. Instead, you may have intended on going joyriding and returning the car when you were done.
Part of proving grand theft auto is showing intent. While joyriding is a different crime, it usually carries lesser fines and may be a misdemeanor in your state. As such, this may be a good defense if you are looking to get the charges you are facing reduced.
Grand theft auto is a felony crime. It carries with it potential jail time and fees as well as a felony charge that may limit your ability to get certain jobs in the future, own a firearm, and even enter certain countries.
Hiring a criminal defense firm to represent you can be important when you are facing such stiff penalties. Contact a criminal defense law firm such as Adams & Associates PLC as quickly as you can after being arrested so that they have time to gather evidence and work on a defense for the charges you are facing.