A Montclair man faces charges of theft for stealing a hearse with a body still inside. According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, a mortuary employee was delivering a body to a Pasadena church for a funeral service. He left the vehicle running with another casket inside.

When he returned to the parking lot, the Hearse – a Lincoln Navigator SUV – was gone. The next day, a citizen reported seeing the stolen hearse on Interstate 110 in Los Angeles. Police located the vehicle and gave chase. The driver lost control of the Navigator and crashed, damaging several other nearby cars. The hearse – with the stolen corpse still inside – suffered significant front-end damage. Police arrested the suspect and transported him to the jail.

According to jail records, the man was on probation at the time of his most recent arrest. A judge in Los Angeles remanded the man to the custody of the Department of Corrections.

Pasadena theft lawyer

When you face charges of theft, your best defense is to hire an experienced theft lawyer like Robert Helfend. Mr. Helfend has more than 30 years of criminal defense experience. He takes cases in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California.

You can face grand Theft charges as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Your charges will depend on the facts of your case and any prior criminal history. If you are already on probation, the prosecutor can take this into account when deciding how to charge you. It’s also important to remember that when you are on probation, you may already have a suspended sentence the court can use immediately – without trying your case!

That’s why it is important to have experienced counsel represent you in court. An experienced attorney can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
Contact Robert Helfend or call toll-free at (800) 834-6434, (310) 456-3317, (818) 591-2809 or (805) 273-5611 for an immediate consultation on your Los Angeles County theft case.

Photo Credit: Truck Hardware, via Flickr.com