Phoenix DUI Lawyer Blog

Auto Theft Charges or "Theft of Means of Transportation"

Auto theft charges in Mesa, AZ are officially called "Theft of Means of Transportation" according to Arizona Law. Auto theft is a class 3 felony. It is considered a crime against a victim in Arizona which carries harsh penalties for convictions. Arizona vigorously prosecutes defendants accused of auto theft. For a first time auto theft conviction, you can face 8.75 years in prison. Other penalties can include restitution, fines, and a felony criminal record that will follow you for years. You should consult a Criminal Attorney who is well versed at defending Mesa AZ auto theft charges as soon as possible if you have been charged with Mesa AZ Auto Theft.

Auto Theft Laws in Mesa AZ
Before discussing the defenses, we first look at the law. The best criminal defense attorneys in Arizona know how to use the Arizona law in your favor. Criminal Laws are not used only to convict and prosecute defendants. Good Attorneys will use those same laws for authority to defend your case. .

Auto theft charges the occur in Mesa AZ are governed by the State of Arizona criminal law Guidelines, Classification, Penalties, and Sentencing can be found in detail under Arizona Statutes for Auto Theft Law "Theft of Means of Transportation" A.R.S. 13-1814.
For the sake of legal ease, here is a summary: In order to get a conviction, the Arizona Prosecution needs to prove that...

1. You knowingly took a vehicle without the owner's permission or legal authority;
2. You controlled, converted or obtained another person's "means of transportation".
3. Your intent was to permanently deprive another of their vehicle.

The defendant needed to have "known" they were taking someone else's vehicle; and they intended to keep it permanently from the rightful owner. With good legal representation by a private practice attorney, this can be an uphill battle for the prosecution.

5 Criminal Defenses for Auto Theft Charges in Mesa
There are a variety of defenses that can possibly be used based on the circumstances of the charges. Just to name a few, here are some defense tactics used by top local criminal defense attorneys in Mesa, AZ.

1) The defendant thought they had consent for the owner. This typically occurs with family members, friends, or domestic partners, where the defendant at one point was a permissive user, and then the owner made the defendant aware that their permission was no longer valid and they rescinded their permission. The defense would be that you thought you had consent, and did not intend to steal the vehicle.

2) Mistake of fact involving a defendant's purchase. This applies when someone purchases, a vehicle from another person or entity in good faith that they believed were the rightful owners. Later, the defendant learns it was a stolen vehicle. In this case, the defendant did not have "knowledge" that it was a stolen vehicle. Nor did they intend to permanently deprive the rightful owner of their means of transportation.

3) Mistake of fact regarding lease, loan or borrowing of a vehicle from someone they believed to be the rightful owner, or lender. A good criminal defense lawyer would argue that you rented or borrowed the vehicle from the loaner or person who rented you the vehicle without knowledge of it being stolen, or intent to deprive the owner of their means of transportation.

4) Violation of Constitutional rights - This includes but is not limited to a) unlawful search and seizures of person or residence b) denial to right to counsel; c) police intimidation, threat, or coercion for the purpose of self-incrimination and get you to admit to a crime. And further it continues after you have told the police you wish to withhold comments or any answers until your defense attorney is present.

5) Weaknesses in the prosecution's case including lack of evidence, lack of witnesses, statements made by unreliable witnesses, or lack of due process and improper investigation by the police.

These are just 5 defenses of many that are used by experienced auto theft defense and criminal defense trial lawyers in Arizona. The defense tactics used are dependent upon the facts of your case. A good criminal defense attorney experienced at defending auto theft cases will know what defenses to use under what circumstances. Convictions for auto theft are too serious to face without good private practice criminal defense. Without proper legal defense by a qualified attorney you forfeit any chance of getting the charges dismissed, reduced, or any good outcome in your Mesa AZ auto theft charges. .