My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York
I was pulled over yesterday and was charged with PL. 165.40 which is criminal possession of stolen property for the plates, driving without insurance and driving and unregistered vehicle. I have a court date set in a few months and would like to know what to expect at the trial. Is this something that I need to get a lawyer for or will one be provided at the hearing?
Additional details: I did not steal anything, the plate belonged to my friend that had them officially registered. He gave them to me a few months prior when I told him I was going to buy plates online (I was looking to evade paying insurance.) For some reason the police said the plates were labeled as stolen in their system, I'm guessing that because my friend didn't return them to DMV they automatically labeled them as stolen. In any case he's a good buddy of mine and I know for a fact that he had them registered and didn't steal them himself. So there must be way to fight this charge right? The description of PL 165.40 says "knowingly possessing stolen property with intent to defraud" in my case I was unknowingly possessing it with intent to defraud.

