A stolen vehicle charge in Oklahoma is a felony. According to OSBI, over 10,000 vehicles were stolen in 2015.  This amounts to just under $15,000,000 worth of cars, trucks, etc. worth of property.  Many times people resell these vehicles on places like craigslist or for cash.  Unfortunately, a person searching for a cheap vehicle on the fly may be victim to buying a stolen vehicle.  It is important you know what to do in case you find yourself in this situation.

Oklahoma Possession of a Stolen Vehicle:

It is illegal to possess a stolen vehicle in Oklahoma.  But to be able to charge and find you guilty of a crime, the state must be able to prove certain elements.  47 Okl.St.Ann. § 4-103 provides that the State must prove you possess the vehicle even though you know it is stolen, and that you have no legal grounds to possess the vehicle.

For instance, if you buy a vehicle and have suspicions it is obtained illegally but drive it anyway, it is likely you will be cited for possession of a stolen vehicle.  You can avoid this by requiring anyone selling you a vehicle to transfer the title to your name.

Punishments for Possessing a Stolen Vehicle:

In Oklahoma, possessing an illegally obtained vehicle is a felony.  Because Oklahoma does not have “classes of felonies” each crime has a specific punishment.  Thus, possession of a taken vehicle is punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and/or a fine.  This fine may range from $500 to $5000.  Most notably though, the felony conviction can cause problems for you in the future.  Certain professional licenses cannot go to convicted felons.  These include: liquor licenses, most medical licenses, and some licenses required for working in banking and accounting.  Further, while it may disqualify you from certain employment opportunities, it may also bar you from owning a firearm.

Wagoner County Possession of Stolen Vehicle Attorneys:

If you’ve been charged with a crime in Wagoner County we  can help. Our criminal defense attorneys in Wagoner care about you and we care about your case. Whether its a felony of a misdemeanor charge we’v’e got the experience you need to navigate your criminal case. Call us today a talk with one of our attorneys about your case.