Carjacking

Carjacking charges are not to be taken lightly in Mississippi, or anywhere else for that matter. These felony charges can carry lengthy prison sentences and hefty penalties. In it’s most basic form, carjacking is basically a robbery involving the theft of a motor vehicle. Typically, carjacking is forcefully taking somebody’s car. A variety of different situations and weapons or implication of weapons can be classified as force, as no two cases are the same. It’s absolutely essential to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after your arrest for the best possible outcome.

What Counts as “Force?”

One of the major elements of carjacking involves “force.” This means that the carjacker forced somebody to hand his or her car over during the theft. Carjacking charges can get complicated, because ‘force’ can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. It doesn’t always mean there had to be a firearm involved. An implication of a firearm or other weapon may be enough. Additionally, it doesn’t have to involve yelling or screaming either. Each situation is different, and your defense lawyer will help to determine the best course of action for your particular case and circumstances.

Firearms and Other Weapons

Firearms are quite often the weapons of choice for carjackers. Unfortunately, this means you’ve got big problems in terms of the charges and potential penalties that you could be facing, if convicted. Automatically, carjacking is a felony. Add a firearm to that, and you’re just adding years to the potential prison sentence. It doesn’t always have to be a gun though. Knives are also used in carjacking crimes. A tire iron or other blunt object can be used as a weapon. The prosecution will likely try to say that just about any object you had on your person at the time of the arrest was used as a “weapon,” so contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Was Somebody Hurt?

If somebody was hurt, whether in the initial carjacking or in a subsequent automobile crash, you could also be facing a much more complicated set of charges and potential penalties. Don’t take a carjacking charge lightly, especially where injuries occurred. Getting in touch with a proven and experienced criminal defense lawyer needs to be your top priority as soon as you have the opportunity to use a phone.

Additional Charges Associated with Carjacking

A variety of additional charges can be associated with carjacking too. It’s rarely as simple as one cut-and-dry charge. There may be assault, battery and kidnapping or even murder charges involved, depending upon the circumstances of your particular case. What could have been or should have been a simple charge of automobile theft can quickly snowball out of control. Getting your lawyer on the case as soon as possible will lead to the best possible outcome, so don’t delay and remember to exercise your right against self incrimination. Wait for your lawyer.

Felony Charges in Jackson

Felony charges in Jackson will carry a minimum of one year in a prison correctional facility. If convicted of carjacking, you would be so lucky to do only one year in a correctional facility. Mississippi does not take carjacking lightly, and neither should you. This is a very serious charge, and your lawyer needs to work tirelessly to get all charges thrown out. Firearms, injuries and other circumstances can quickly complicate your case. You could be facing life in prison, even if it’s your first offense.