When someone is facing vehicle theft charges, it is essential that they speak with an attorney for help building a Fredericksburg auto theft defense. There are several strategies, an attorney would be familiar with that someone without extensive legal knowledge might not know about and would not use to their advantage. It is imperative that when someone is building a defense case, they have all of the available information and can determine the best course of action. Auto theft differs from other theft-related offenses in that they are specific that the item taken is an automobile. In Virginia, an auto theft charge can become a felony if there are weapons or aggravating factors.
A lawyer can help you understand the law, review your rights, prepare you for a trial or hearing, and determine a defense strategy. The type of strategy is usually dependent on the facts of the case and the potential client’s decisions. Generally, the defense is going to try to find all information and determine whether or not there are found legal defenses or factual defense and how they may apply. If you are facing these charges, you should contact a dedicated vehicle theft attorney.
Someone’s attorney will use various forms of evidence and gather as many facts as possible while they are building a Fredericksburg auto theft defense to counter their charges. If charged with auto theft, someone must prove all the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. This would include that the person has committed a larceny and the taking of an automobile was with the intent to deprive someone of their property. The deprivation is permanent. If it is not permanent, they cannot have larceny. They also have to prove that the value was over $200. That would be not as difficult of an element to prove as it is in any other type of case.
Virginia does not have probation before judgment to defer finding for a felony case. Working with an attorney can help the defendant explore the options they may have and present evidence and sentencing or prior to sentencing to try their case for the best possible scenario.
Lawyers can help by understanding the law as it applies to the facts of the case and by knowing local procedures, including prosecutors, judges, and officers and how their evidence may be to the advantage of a defendant. Attorneys can also use their skills in advocacy and negotiation to try to work with the prosecutor to get the best possible outcomes. There are a variety of scenarios that the attorney’s extensive experience can be used when building a Fredericksburg auto theft defense.
When the lawyer is building a Fredericksburg auto theft defense, they would likely take a variety of steps to figure out exactly what the Commonwealth can do through the use of investigatory techniques such as discovery. They also will want to interview witnesses to the events or alibis if possible. A lawyer is going to take a defense to try and look at the specific facts, like whether or not it is properly unauthorized use or properly a larceny in the permanent taking and how the facts of this specific case may lead to one conclusion or another.
An attorney helps the person in an auto theft defense because it is a very serious offense prosecuted aggressively by prosecutors and law enforcement officers in Fredericksburg. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers in Fredericksburg know what they are doing and are seeking to put the offender behind bars for a long time. The person needs an experienced attorney that knows what they are doing and can advocate on the person’s behalf. When an attorney is building a Fredericksburg auto theft defense on behalf of someone charged, they can determine the best course of action.
Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Group