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Carjacking has been in the news lately thanks to a Los Angeles landscaper who had their pick up truck stolen during a police chase. While most of these cases don’t generate as much news as the landscape case did, it’s still a very common occurrence in the city of Los Angeles. 

If you’re being charged with the crime of carjacking then you’re being accused of stealing a motor vehicle through the use of “force or fear.” That is, you threatened or assaulted the driver to get control of the car. The victim may be a driver or a passenger.

The penalty for this crime is up to 9 years in state prison, probation, and up to one year in county jail. You may also be charged a maximum fine of $10,000. 

If you are charged with committing a kidnapping during a carjacking then you could face life in prison. This is a fairly common occurrence during carjacking crimes, as many perpetrators are in a hurry and don’t realize there are other people in the car, particularly children, when they take off with it. 

This is also a crime which may come with enhanced sentencing if: 

• The victim suffered great bodily injury.
• The crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang.
• You used or fired a gun while committing the carjacking.
• You unintentionally killed someone during the carjacking (elevating the charge to felony murder).
• This is the third crime you’re being convicted of.

Obviously, you should take a carjacking charge very seriously.

Fighting a Car Jacking Charge

Your defense attorney has several options for fighting your carjacking charge.

The first was that you took the car, but you did not use force or fear. We may be able to strengthen this argument if you had reason to believe you had the right to take the car. We may even be able to prove that you had the alleged victim’s permission to get in the car and to drive it. 

Mistaken identity is another strong defense. If you never took the car in the first place and we can prove it, then we may be able to get you acquitted. Mistaken identity is very common when a prosecutor’s case relies heavily on eye witness testimony, especially if you are of a different race then the vast majority of the witnesses. 

Get Help Today

A carjacking cause can change your life for the worse. 

Our team can help you bring your case to its best possible outcome. We have experience getting carjacking charges dropped, dismissed, or reduced. We’ve also secured acquittals for alleged carjackers.

Don’t leave your case up to chance. Call us for a free case review today.

See also:

How to Help a Loved One Who Has Been Accused of a Crime in Los Angeles, CA 

Do You Really Need a Los Angeles Criminal Lawyer if You’re Innocent? 

What Happens if You Confess to a Crime in Los Angeles, CA