Auto Theft

Dan Koukol is a criminal defense lawyer successfully defending auto theft cases in Placer County, including Roseville, Granite Bay, Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis, and surrounding areas, for more than 25 years.

If you are charged with car theft, you need an attorney who:

  • Understands the intricacies of the charges you are facing.
  • Is often able to obtain outcomes involving restitution, community service, and theft-awareness classes instead of jail.
  • Understands how to structure outcomes so you can clean up your record.

My experience as a criminal defense attorney handling car theft cases in Placer County, Roseville, Granite Bay, Auburn, Lincoln, Rocklin, and Loomis for more than 25 years allows me to get to the best outcome possible in your case.

If you are facing these or other charges, call me at (530) 823-5400 to set up a free consultation.

Charge

Description

Severity

Sentence Range

With Probation

Sentence Range

Without Probation

Vehicle 10851

Theft / unauthorized use of vehicle

Felony

0 to 365 days

16m, 2y or 3y

Vehicle 10851

Theft / unauthorized use of vehicle

Felony

0 to 365 days

0 to 365 daysz

Penal 487(d)

Grand theft of automobile

Felony

0 to 365 days

16m, 2y or 3y

Penal 487(d)

Grand theft of automobile

Misdemeanor

0 to 365 days

0 to 365 days

Background

Car theft involves the unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle. Car theft is a “wobbler,” meaning it can be charged either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the circumstances of the crime and your criminal record.

Even the owner allowed you or someone else to take or drive the vehicle before, this does not mean the owner consented to you driving or taking the vehicle again, based on that previous consent alone. Car theft requires that the vehicle be moved for any distance, no matter how small.

In most cases, probation can be ordered instead of jail or prison time.

Burden of Proof

In order to convict you of this offense, the prosecutor must prove that:

  1. You took or drove someone else’s vehicle without the owner’s consent,
  2. When you did so, you intended to deprive the owner of possession or ownership of the vehicle for any period of time.
Legal Defenses

Although the specific legal defenses that apply to your case will vary, several defenses are common to car theft charges. Some of these include (but are not limited to):

  • You did not intend to steal the vehicle.
  • The vehicle belonged to you.
  • The owner of the vehicle consented to you taking it.
Negotiated Settlements

If you decide you cannot successfully defend against the charge, and you need to enter an admission to settle your case, you will want to:

  • Carefully negotiate the offense you admit to.
  • Negotiate to avoid jail, replacing it with probation or treatment.
  • Make arrangements, in advance, to clean up your criminal record as soon as possible.

If you are facing auto theft charges, I can help. Call me at (530) 823-5400 to set up a free consultation.