Atlanta Police Search for Suspect in Car Break-in Case

Officers with the Atlanta Police Department are still on the search for a suspect who allegedly smashed a car window and stole a woman's belongings.

The crime happened outside of a popular dog park in Atlanta. According to the victim, she arrive at Fetch Park and Ice House around 5:30pm. She returned to her car a few hours later and realized that one of her rear windows had been shattered.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline one of the crimes that allegedly occurred during this incident. Entering auto is when there is an entry into a person's car without their permission and committing a subsequent theft or other felonious crime. Let's take a closer look at the law.

Entering Auto in Georgia

Entering Auto in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law as O.C.G.A. §16-8-18 as:

If any person shall enter any automobile or other motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or a felony, he shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or, in the discretion of the trial judge, as for a misdemeanor.

The penalty for entering auto is a prison sentence for no less than one year and no more than five years and is deemed a felony. However, it is within the judge's discretion to treat the crime as a misdemeanor instead.

If you are found guilty of a misdemeanor instead of a felony, you may only have to pay a fine. But if you judge issues a felony conviction, the consequences may be years in prison. You could receive a prison sentence, a fine, or both if guilty of a felony.

Also, you may be ordered by the court to pay restitution. Restitution is when someone convicted of a crime must financially compensate a victim or the victim's family. The amount of compensation varies with each case and is set by the court. Your penalty for a conviction of entering auto could be a prison sentence, restitution, and a fine if they found it reasonable for your case.

Practice Note

Entering auto is a similar crime to the offense of burglary in Georgia. It is a crime that typically involves the commission of another crime. That being said - not everyone who is accused of committing a criminal offense is guilty of a crime.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact our offices today. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can help you now.