Commonwealth v. Pemberth

OLSZEWSKI, Judge:

Appellant challenges his conviction under 18 Pa.C.S. Sec. 3928, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

We are asked to decide whether a defendant charged only with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, 18 Pa.C.S. Sec. 3921, and receiving stolen property, 18 Pa.C.S. Sec. 3925, can be validly convicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 18 Pa.C.S. Sec. 3928.

It is well-settled that upon indictment for a particular crime, a defendant may be convicted of a lesser offense included within that crime. Commonwealth v. Soudani, 398 Pa. 546, 159 A.2d 687, cert. denied 364 U.S.…