Experienced Defense Attorney in Unauthorized Use of Vehicle Charges
An unauthorized use of a vehicle charge does not necessarily mean someone is accused of stealing a car. These cases often involve a vehicle that was originally borrowed with permission, a disagreement over when it should have been returned, or a dispute about who had authority to use it. What matters is whether prosecutors can prove the person knowingly operated the vehicle without the owner’s effective consent.
At Odefey, Witte, Wall, & Villafranca, LLP, attorney Jordan G. Fries represents individuals facing unauthorized use of a vehicle charges throughout Victoria, Port Lavaca, and surrounding South Texas communities. His approach starts with the circumstances behind the vehicle’s use—not simply the fact that someone was driving it.
Unauthorized use cases can develop from situations where permission and ownership are not as clear as the initial allegation suggests.
Common examples include:
An important question is not simply whether the owner says, “I didn’t give permission.” Jordan looks at what happened before the vehicle was used: whether permission had been given previously, what the parties said to each other, and whether the accused actually knew that consent was absent or had been withdrawn.
Unauthorized use of a vehicle is a felony offense in Texas.
A conviction may result in consequences such as:
The consequences can be significant, particularly when what began as an informal arrangement between people who knew each other becomes a felony prosecution.
Jordan focuses closely on consent and what the accused knew at the time the vehicle was operated. Text messages, call records, prior borrowing arrangements, witness accounts, and communications between the owner and driver can provide context that is missing from the initial police report.
He also considers how the vehicle came into the person’s possession. There is a meaningful difference between taking a stranger’s vehicle and continuing to use a vehicle someone had previously allowed you to drive. Those details can shape how Jordan approaches the case and how prosecutors ultimately evaluate it.
Unauthorized use cases often depend on conversations and relationships that existed before police became involved.
Jordan Fries knows how to identify the facts prosecutors are likely to focus on while making sure the surrounding circumstances are not overlooked.
