Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

My brother and his girlfriend were driving around a stolen car. Not aware it was stolen my boyfriend drove it to buy cigarettes. The vehicle was parked infront of the neighbors house and police ran the plate and knocked on my door they said witnesses placed me and my boyfriend in the car. I told them that yes i had rode in it on two different ocassions and my boyfriend admitted to have drove it once. we told them who in fact we thought it belonged to and the police made me call my brothers girlfriend to come get the vehicle from in front of my neighbors which she did and they waited for her to get in and drive off then pulled her over and arressted her. Nither me nor my boyfriend were any where near the car when the cops came. They said the didn't arrest me cause i coopertive and helped by calling the person who drove the vehicle there. But they arressted my boyfriend and charged him with the same thing they charged the girl who accuately was driving the car around. They both were charged with driving a vehicle without the owners consent. What i don't understand is why my boyfriend was charged with it. Yes he drove it once but he was unaware it was stolen. The police did not catch him in it or even around it. However my boyfriends first time going to jail was for stealing a car but that was many years ago and he has never been intouble for that again it was in his younger days.


Asked on 6/25/10, 2:07 am

3 Answers from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

It doesn't matter why they allowed you to skate and him to be arrested. That is a judgment call within police discretion. You could still be charged too. Now, he gets to defend the charges as best he can. He should hire an attorney who can use whatever facts and evidence are available to do so. If he is serious about hiring counsel, feel free to contact me.

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Answered on 6/25/10, 9:03 am
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

If the police believed he didn't know the car was stolen, they wouldn't have arrested him. The fact that you believe it doesn't mean they have to. He needs a lawyer asap.

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Answered on 6/25/10, 9:14 am
Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

It's clear to me that the reason that the police arrested him is they don't believe that he didn't know the car was stolen. The answer to your question is imbedded in your own question. Your boyfriend has a prior conviction for stealing a car. In the minds of law enforcement, he is a car thief, why else would he be in a stolen car?

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Answered on 6/25/10, 11:35 am


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