For decades, one of the most serious crimes in Oklahoma that does not relate to drugs, homicide or sexual acts is theft. Specifically, charges of grand theft auto have led many who have been convicted of these charges to face long-term periods of incarceration. Therefore, anyone who faces these charges needs to act immediately to obtain the help of experienced Oklahoma criminal defense lawyers to make sure that their legal rights are being properly protected and enforced as the process of charging and eventually prosecuting an accused party moves forward. Below is a brief look at grand theft auto charges and the potential punishments attached to a conviction of these charges in Oklahoma.
GRAND THEFT AUTO IN OKLAHOMA
The first word that needs to be defined with this Oklahoma auto theft law is ‘grand’. Grand theft in Oklahoma means the taking of anything that is worth more than $500. Since most automobiles exceed this value, most charges that are filed based on an alleged theft fall into this category. As a result, the eventual punishments faced by convicted defendants can be extremely harsh. With regards to the word ‘auto’, the term in the statute actually refers to more types of vehicles than cars, trucks or SUV’s. The statute specifically mentions any ‘automotive driven vehicle’ and includes:
Aircraft
Automobiles
Construction equipment
Farm equipment
The wrongful taking of any piece of machinery that can be driven could lead to this charge in Oklahoma courts.
POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT FOR GRAND THEFT AUTO IN OKLAHOMA
If someone is convicted of this charge in Oklahoma, that convicted defendant could face harsh penalties that extend well beyond time in prison. Specifically, a conviction of this charge in Oklahoma could result in a prison term of at least three and up to 20 years. In addition, the convicted defendant could face a fine of three times the value of the vehicle taken not to exceed $500,000 as well as the order to pay restitution to the victim of this crime.
HOW OKLAHOMA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CAN HELP
Clearly, anyone who is being investigated for this crime or who has already been charged faces a serious legal problem, and there is no time to waste. If you or someone you love is dealing with this extreme difficulty, contact the Oklahoma criminal defense attorneys at AMA Law immediately to begin the process of building your defense and protecting your legal rights.