A conviction for any criminal offense can leave you facing serious penalties, regardless of the crime’s severity. You might wind up facing jail time, a fine and damage to your reputation and your record that makes living a normal life difficult. These penalties can be even more severe, though, if you are considered a habitual offender, or if you are currently on probation or parole for a previous conviction. In these instances, you may need to think hard about how best to defend yourself and escape not only probation or parole revocation, but also additional penalties upon a new conviction.
One Rochester man may be in this position now after being accused of theft. Local police have been investigating multiple burglaries and car larcenies, one of which they say is tied to a 45-year-old parolee. According to police, the man had stolen items in his possession, which were linked to one of the burglaries. The man was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of stolen property.
The man had just been paroled on August 2, 2017 for a 2014 conviction related to illegal possession of a firearm. That conviction was the third for the man, which may mean that any subsequent convictions and/or parole violations may land him in prison for a significant period of time.
With so much at stake this man, and those who find themselves similarly situated, need to carefully consider their criminal defense options. Prosecutors, whether seeking to obtain a new conviction or revoke probation or parole, must prove certain legal elements. Experienced criminal defense attorneys will know how to challenge the prosecution’s evidence in an attempt to block them from proving one or more of these elements. If you want to learn more about how to do so, consider speaking with a competent Rochester criminal defense attorney.