One of the first things any prosecutor will do when taking on a case is try to prove that a criminal defendant knowingly and intentionally committed the crime in question. Without such proof, prosecutors have a hard time proving to a judge and jury that the defendant is indeed the one responsible for the crime.
Last week, a Tucson woman found herself in need of a good Arizona criminal defense attorney after being arrested and charged with the theft of a Pinal County maintenance truck.
Here’s the story as reported by the Tucson Citizen:
Pinal County officers were on alert for a truck that was reported stolen from Casa Grande. That night, a deputy saw a white van that matched the description of the missing maintenance vehicle. It appeared as though several decals on the truck had been painted over.
The truck began to swerve and the deputy turned on his lights and sirens and attempted to pull the vehicle over. Instead of stopping, the driver of the truck increased in speed for another 100 yards before coming to a stop. However, as the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver once again drove off abruptly. Although seeing two females and one male inside the truck, it is unclear at this point which individual was driving. The truck once again stopped and the occupants exited the vehicle.
The deputy ran after and chased down the 29-year-old Tucson woman. When he approached her, she admitted that she ran from him because she knew that there was a warrant out for her arrest but claimed to have no knowledge that the vehicle was stolen. The officer searched the woman and found a small amount of marijuana on her person.
As stated earlier in this post, knowledge or intent is a crucial element in most criminal offenses. The fact that the woman did not know the vehicle was stolen could be an important factor in her defense.
Protect Your Rights
If you’re facing criminal charges of any kind, it will be in your best interest to consult immediately with a criminal defense attorney in Mesa AZ to establish the best possible defense for your case. When you hire Naegle & Crider Criminal Defense Attorneys you will always work directly with Mesa Criminal Defense Attorney, Charlie Naegle, who has dedicated his career to helping others defend their rights against criminal charges. Naegle & Crider Criminal Defense Attorneys works with individuals in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Glendale.
Call 480-245-5550 today, to schedule your free, private consultation with Charlie Naegle.
Source: Tucson Citizen, “Woman arrested in theft of Pinal County truck”