In a mistake of fact defense, to what can the actor still be convicted?

In a mistake of fact defense, if the actor is found to have genuinely misunderstood a factual situation, they may not be held liable for the greater offense that was charged against them. However, they can still be convicted of a lesser included offense. This is because a mistake of fact may negate the mens rea, or the mental state necessary for a higher level of culpability for a more serious offense, but it does not necessarily eliminate the possibility of executing a lesser offense, where the actor may have failed to meet the thresholds for a more serious charge but still committed a wrongdoing.

For example, if someone believed they had permission to use someone else's property but did not, they may not be guilty of theft (the higher offense) due to their belief; however, they could still be convicted of a less serious charge, such as trespassing, depending on the specifics of the situation. Thus, the mistake of fact can lead to different interpretations of what constitutes the crimes committed, resulting in the potential for a conviction of lesser included offenses.