How Auto Theft Is Charged in Wyoming
The general theft law in Wyoming, Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-402, covers vehicle theft. The level of the charge depends on how much the vehicle is worth. Most cars in Wyoming are worth more than the misdemeanor limit, so stealing a car is usually a felony. Wyoming also has a law against unauthorized use of a vehicle, which means taking a car for a short time without the owner’s permission but not with the intention of keeping it. This law has its own range of penalties.
People who are charged with auto theft often face other charges as well, such as possession of a stolen vehicle, tampering with a vehicle identification number, receiving stolen property, or, in cases where they have high-speed encounters with police, traffic and weapons charges. The full range of charges in auto theft cases can be much broader than just the theft itself.
The Intent Element and Borrowed Vehicles
In auto theft cases, a common disagreement about the facts is whether the owner knew or implicitly agreed to the theft. For example, a friend’s car was taken without their permission, a family car was taken after an argument, or a rental car was kept past its return date. These are all factual questions that affect both the level of the charge and the defense strategy: Did the owner really give permission? Did the person mean to permanently take the owner’s property? What do the surrounding circumstances show?
How We Defend Auto Theft Cases in Wyoming
Defenses against auto theft look at the person’s intent, whether they had permission, and who actually took or owned the car. In constructive possession cases, the prosecution has to prove more than just presence in a stolen vehicle. This is when someone is charged with being in a stolen vehicle without being the one who took it. We look at all the details of each car theft case and question the prosecution’s proof for each part.
Penalty Grid
| Value Over Threshold | Prison Exposure | Multiple Charges | Record |
| Felony theft | Up to 10 years | Common | Permanent felony |
Related Charges We Also Defend
Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law
Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.
We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.
We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.
Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.
Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients
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OtherSuppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme CourtDistrict Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.
Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court
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CASE DISMISSEDReckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming
Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.
State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDDUI / DWUI — Wyoming
Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.
State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDFelony Child Abuse — Wyoming
Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.
State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court
Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.
The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.
What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law
Frequently asked questions about auto theft in Wyoming
Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve
We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.
- Deadwood
- Sturgis (Rally)
- Custer County
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Pennington County
We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.
