Auto Theft Attorney in Colorado Springs | CRS 18-4-409

Motor vehicle theft cases were up in 2020 throughout Colorado. This offense typically involves accusations that a defendant took a vehicle without the owner’s permission or by threat or deception. What a person does with the car after they take control of it has a significant impact on the potential consequences. Additionally, the value of the vehicle itself affects charges as well. Easier to commit than many think, aggravated motor vehicle theft comes in many shapes and sizes. Contact an experienced auto theft attorney today if you or someone you know is facing charges for stealing a car in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, or Aurora.

Colorado’s Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft Laws

Aggravated motor vehicle theft laws in El Paso, Douglas, and Arapahoe County prohibit stealing another’s car, truck, van, or motorcycle. CRS 18-4-409 addresses both first-degree and second-degree auto theft throughout Colorado. You commit aggravated motor vehicle theft in the second-degree if you:

knowingly obtain or exercise control,
over another’s motor vehicle,
without authorization,
or by threat or deception

Automobile theft increases to the level of first-degree if any of the following is alleged in addition to the factors above:

keep the vehicle for >24 hrs,
attempt to alter or disguise the vehicle,
remove or alter the VIN,
use the vehicle to commit another crime (except a traffic offense),
cause $500 or more of property damage,
cause bodily injury,
take the vehicle out of CO for >12 hrs,
unlawfully attach or display other license plates

How Serious is Auto Theft in Colorado Springs?

Aggravated motor vehicle theft has a wide sentencing range and is most often a felony offense. Depending on prior criminal history and the value of the stolen vehicle, a conviction for auto theft can result in:

a prison sentence of 1 – 12 years,
fines of $1K – $750K,
1 – 5 years of parole,
driver’s license revocation for a minimum of 1 year

In some scenarios when no aggravating factors apply and the vehicle is under $1,000 in value, a class 1 misdemeanor applies. This can lead to a county jail sentence and a maximum fine of $5,000.

Colorado Springs Auto Theft Attorney

Finding a strategic auto theft attorney with experience successfully navigating these charges is crucial if facing allegations. Perhaps you had permission to drive the car, the owner is drumming up false accusations, or there are other holes in the evidence against you. Nevertheless, contact our office for a free, confidential consultation. One of our skilled criminal lawyers will carefully analyze your case, as well as talk you through next steps. Our same-day jail visits, affordable fees, and flexible payment plans make us the go-to law office for auto theft charges in Colorado Springs, Denver, Aurora, and Lakewood.