Three Men Accused of Breaking Into Over 30 Cars in Atlanta

According to reports out of Atlanta, three men have been arrested after breaking into over 30 cars in a parking deck.

The incidents occurred all in one night according to police. The men smashed windows of each car in order to steal belongings inside the cars at a public parking garage on North Highland Avenue.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense of entering auto in the state of Georgia in today's post.

Entering Auto in Georgia

Entering Auto in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in 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 no 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

Contact our offices today if you or a loved one has a criminal case in the state of Georgia. We are able to help with your case now.