A Ventura man was arrested Thursday in connection with a car theft, police said.
A man reported his vehicle stolen from the 1100 block of Brunswick Lane in Ventura on Wednesday evening. The car was unlocked with the keys inside at the time, police said.
At 1 a.m. Thursday, a patrol officer saw the stolen vehicle near Arcade Drive and Thompson Boulevard in Ventura. The driver, Austin Johnson, 20, was arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence, police said.
A female passenger not involved in the theft was released at the scene.
When a defendant in Los Angeles faces theft charges for property valued at more than $400, he or she will face grand theft charges. Theft of certain types of property, such as a firearm or automobile, will result in automatic grand theft charges regardless of the specific value of the property. A standard grand theft conviction may result in up to 16 months or 2-3 years in state prison.
Contact Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney
Robert Helfend if you or someone you know has been arrested for this or any related theft crime. You have the right to legal counsel; taking advantage of this right may be the only thing standing between you and jail time.