Yvon is charged with the crime of theft for taking Zach's briefcase,which Yvon mistakenly thought was hers.A mistake of fact is a defense

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A mistake of fact can be a defense if it negates the mental state necessary to commit a crime. In this case, Yvon's mistaken belief that the briefcase was hers would negate the intent to steal, which is necessary for a theft charge. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because the fact of who owns the briefcase is reasonably made known to the public. Option C is incorrect because intoxication is not typically a defense for criminal acts. Option D is incorrect because there are certain circumstances where a mistake of fact would not be a defense.

Yvon Is Charged with the Crime of Theft for Taking