Suspect Arrested in Glendale After Alleged Carjacking
A 35-year-old man was recently arrested in Glendale after allegedly carjacking a vehicle and then leading police on a chase through Glendale and Phoenix.
According to FoxPhoenix.com, Glendale police reported that the suspect car-jacked a vehicle in west Phoenix and then went on a home-invasion and robbery spree. He crashed that vehicle and then fled on foot.
The man allegedly tried to break into several homes before finding car keys in one home and taking a second vehicle. After a police pursuit, the suspect crashed that vehicle, and was arrested by Glendale Police. Reportedly, officers found a gun in the first car that had allegedly been carjacked.
This suspect will most likely face several charges based on his alleged crimes, but one of them will not be for carjacking.
Why is that?
Simply put, under the Arizona Criminal Code, there is no offense on the books that specifically deals with “carjacking.” Most likely, the suspect will face two charges of “Theft of Means of Transportation,” which is a class 3 felony. One of the requisite elements of being convicted with Theft of Means of Transportation is that a person “controls another person’s means of transportation with the intent to permanently deprive that person of the means of transportation.”
While in this instance, the definition of “Theft of Means of Transportation” is readily apparent, this charge also covers some gray areas that may not be so clear. For instance, a person can face this charge if he or she keeps an automobile for an extended period of time — even if the person who owns the car granted temporary permission to drive it.
If you have been charged with vehicle theft in Phoenix or Glendale it is important that you contact a criminal defense attorney at the law firm of Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. in Phoenix. Our legal team is dedicated to mounting the best defense possible so you get the best outcome in your case. If you would like us to review your case, please call us at (480) 467-3434 or contact us online today.
About the Author
Zachary Mushkatel is a founding attorney of Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., who has practiced law in Arizona since 2004. He also practices before the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A graduate of the University of Arizona and the University of Minnesota Law School, he started his career as a public defender and entered private practice in criminal defense. In 2008, Zachary co-founded a firm dedicated to civil law in addition to criminal defense, and he has since expanded his practice to personal injury, estate planning and litigation, guardianships, conservatorships, probate, corporate litigation, real estate, and various civil matters. He serves on the board and faculty of the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, and he is a past president and current member of the West Maricopa County Bar Association.
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