It only takes one compelling piece of evidence to make the prosecution’s case when seeking a conviction for criminal charges. This is why accused individuals need to ensure that they do everything they can to protect themselves. Those who fail to do so may wind up being taken advantage of, as aggressive prosecutors know how to use the law to their advantage. Three Rochester-area individuals will need to carefully consider their criminal defense options after being arrested on allegations of grand larceny.
According to police, the three individuals read obituaries to figure out where funerals were going to occur, then showed up to break into cars while their owners were inside mourning. The authorities further claim that the accused individuals have broken into cars at shopping malls and sporting events. It appears that the police initiated a three-month long investigation into the suspects. The arrests came after one of the individuals was followed to a Best Buy where he or she allegedly used a credit card stolen from an individual whose car had recently been broken into.
These defendants are now facing eight counts of grand larceny, in addition to criminal mischief. If convicted, they could wind up spending years behind bars. But in addition to incarceration, these individuals may be forced to pay serious, financially debilitating fines if they are convicted, and a conviction can significantly damage their reputations, making it hard to carry on with a normal life even after they have paid their debt to society.
In other words, these three people have a lot on the line. If they fail to aggressively challenge the prosecution’s evidence, which may include drawing witness credibility into question, then the penalties they hit may be amongst the stiffest with regard to this criminal offense. With a lot to lose, these defendants, and others who are similarly situated, should think about talking to a criminal defense attorney to craft a strategy that seeks the best possible outcome given the facts at hand.