DNA Evidence Used in Theft Case
It’s not often you see DNA evidence used to solve a crime. Really. Television shows like CSI are more likely to use it than actual police departments. It’s even rarer to use it on a theft case. However, that’s just what happened with a case out of Farmington.
According to the Independent, a break in occurred on a truck last year. The window was shattered and several items were taken. Golf clubs, a GPS system, drills, and a sander were taken, bringing the value of the theft to about $4800.
Drops of blood were found at the scene and police decided to test the blood. They found that DNA in the blood was a match to DNA in the state database, belonging to a 24 year old Farmington man. That man now faces charges of felony theft.
We commonly think of DNA as being used in major murder and rape cases, violent cases where people are hurt. However, the Farmington police saw their opportunity to solve a crime and took it.
DNA is just another form of evidence, used similarly to fingerprints found at the crime scene. No two people’s prints are the same; nor is their DNA. However, physical evidence doesn’t have to be this strong for a state to get a criminal conviction.
The stronger the evidence against you, the more likely your case will go to trial. Most cases are resolved with a plea agreement and this is especially true if the prosecution isn’t sure that they will be able to get a conviction. If the evidence against you has holes or is questionable, we can likely work out a favorable plea bargain.
Evidence isn’t the only factor used in determining the likelihood of a plea bargain, though. Someone who has no criminal history is much more likely to see a great plea deal than someone with a long rap sheet. Call me today to discuss what your potential outcomes are.
Maybe you’re facing theft charges too. More than likely the state doesn’t have DNA evidence against you. Contact me to discuss the details of your case and the strength of the evidence against you—I can give you a fair analysis of your case for free.