Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle: Dismissed

Rhode Island State Police on patrol observed a vehicle with a New York Registration operating at speeds in excess of 100 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. The Trooper also observed the operator commit several moving motor vehicle violations. These observations caused the Trooper to initiate a traffic stop. Upon checking the registration on the vehicle, the Trooper learned that it had been reported stolen. It was occupied by a male operator and two female passengers. The vehicle was registered to the mother of one of the girls. Based on this collective information, the Trooper placed the man under arrest and charged him in Rhode Island Superior Court for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a felony; reckless driving, a misdemeanor; and, several civil motor vehicle infractions. The man retained Rhode Island Motor Vehicle and Criminal Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in this matter. After painting a bright picture of the man’s background, which involved no criminal history, steady employment, and enrollment in collect, Attorney Calcagni negotiated a pretrial disposition with prosecutors. He also produced evidence that the female operator took her mother’s car without permission and that the man was driving it without any actual knowledge or reason to believe it had been reported stolen or used by the girl without her mother’s permission. Based on this collective information, Attorney Calcagni persuaded prosecutors to dismiss the felony and civil motor vehicle infraction. As for the reckless driving misdemeanor, the man accepted responsibility for which he agreed to be placed on unsupervised probation for one year.