String of Vehicle Break-ins in Walton County

Authorities in Walton County are currently looking for the second man believed to be connected to over 20 different auto break-ins in the county.

According to reports, police stopped a driver on US 78 and while searching his car, they found several guns and other items that had been reported as a stolen in a string of vehicle break-ins.

After the arrest of the driver, authorities discovered a video from one of the victim's surveillance systems. This led to the discovery that two or more suspects were involved.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense of breaking into cars otherwise known as entering auto.

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

If you or a loved one has been arrested for a crime in Georgia, contact our offices today. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can help you with your case.