Jones v. State

COUCH, Judge.

Maryland Code, Article 27, § .349, prohibits the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. 1 In this appeal, we must decide whether an automobile repairman is exempt from prosecution under this statute after he absconds with the owner’s car against that person’s express wishes. We hold that the automobile repairman in this case, petitioner William Jones, was properly charged with a violation of this offense, and affirm the conviction rendered below.

On February 25, 1984, William Jones approached a longtime acquaintance, Paul Chester, in search of work. Jones, a sometimes automobile…