Receiving or Transferring a Stolen Motor Vehicle - Utah
Criminal Defense Attorney
Charges for receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle carries
the same potential penalties as motor vehicle theft under Utah criminal
law - including the potential for a felony conviction and up to 15
years in prison. If you are facing criminal charges in Utah, it is
important to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side.
Based in Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard has the knowledge and
experience necessary to protect your rights and to help ensure the best
outcome for your case. Contact us today to arrange for an initial
consultation and case analysis.
Elements of Transferring or Receiving a Stolen Motor
Vehicle in Utah
When Utah police recover a vehicle that is believed to be stolen, they
may not be able to determine who originally stole the vehicle.
Unless police obtain a confession or locate an eyewitness
who can identify the person who stole the vehicle, it can be difficult
for police and prosecutors to obtain a conviction for an ordinary
charge of
vehicle
theft. To overcome these difficulties, Utah
prosecutors will sometimes file a charge referred to under Utah law as
"receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle, trailer, or
semitrailer."
This offense only requires proof that the defendant had "in his possession any motor vehicle, trailer, or
semitrailer that he knows or has reason to believe has been stolen or
unlawfully taken." Utah police investigating a charge of receiving or transferring a
stolen vehicle will often look at the condition of the vehicle for
circumstantial evidence in an attempt to prove the required intent.
Was the ignition damaged? Had the vehicle been hot
wired? Were the keys to the vehicle present? If the vehicle is undamaged and the suspect can offer a plausible
explanation for how the vehicle was obtained, the chances
of beating the charge are improved.
If
you are contacted by police in connection with a vehicle that is
suspected to be stolen, you may be better off exercising your
fifth amendment
right
to remain silent,
even if you have a good explanation for how you obtained the vehicle.
Talking to police in the field
does not
always help your case. Your wisest course of action may be to consult
first with an attorney to determine when, how, and if you should
present your side of the
story.
Finding a Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer in Salt Lake City
Receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle in Utah is a felony charge
that can result in a prison term of up to 15 years. Defending
a Utah criminal case can be complicated, and the stakes are high.
The Utah criminal court system involves a complex set of
procedural rules. Understanding how constitutional
protections and statutory and procedural rights apply to the specific
facts of your case requires an experienced
Utah
criminal defense attorney. If you are accused of
receiving or possessing a stolen vehicle, you need
an attorney with a
record of
real results.
As a
criminal
defense attorney based in Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard
offers legal services to clients throughout Utah. If you are
facing criminal prosecution in Utah,
contact
us
now to schedule an initial consultation.

Our criminal defense lawyers have represented clients facing some of the most serious felony charges on the books in Utah. Whether you are facing prosecution for felony or misdemeanor charges, you can be assured that our attorneys have the experience, knowledge, and determination necessary to help you achieve the results you need. Choosing the best defense attorney for your case will be one of the most important decisions you make....
Experience
»

Being charged with a crime is not the same as being convicted. But just being charged can affect more than you may have imagined - jail, job, family, bills, rent or mortgage. It can feel like everything has gone wrong, and may you wonder if anything can go right. But facing criminal prosecution does not mean giving up hope....
Reasons to Hope
»