Criminal allegations are taken seriously in Anchorage and throughout Alaska. Some of these acts are related to auto theft. While many might be under the impression that these crimes are limited to a person stealing a car or SUV, there are other acts that may sound unusual, but are also categorized as auto theft with the accompanying penalties of jail time, fines and more. In one recent case, a man was accused of stealing a truck from a local fire department.
In the incident, the 22-year-old man was said to have broken into the firehouse. It was approximately 9 p.m. and there was no one else in the building. He subsequently took a fire truck and crashed through the garage doors. The emergency lights were activated and he drove about 15 miles away where he stopped at a bar.
After exiting the truck, two law enforcement officers encountered him and placed him under arrest. During the theft, he is said to have done about $10,000 in damage when taking the vehicle. The vehicle itself also needs to be repaired. He faces several charges including auto theft and for violation of the conditions related to a previous charge for which he had been released.
Depending on what was stolen, the penalties for a theft conviction can be severe. This is especially true if the person has a prior record. Formulating a strong defense may be essential to avoid the worst possible consequences. Although this case sounds different from the conventional perception of auto theft, the ramifications are just as harsh as they are for a more common auto-related crime.
This man is relatively young at 22 and steps may be taken to prevent him from dealing with extensive jail time and other problems. Perhaps there are other issues that could be considered when crafting a defense. There may be an opportunity to reduce the charges via plea bargain. No matter what, the first thing this man should do is contact a law firm experienced in all areas of criminal defense to fight the charges and seek a workable solution.