Sometimes the guilt of the innocence is punishable by jail time. One of these instances is when theft and receiving stolen property is in the accusation. If you are accused of accepting and in the possession of stolen property you could be charged with a crime and you need to know what your rights are.
If you were not aware of the receipt of stolen property you have to be proven in a court of law of your innocence. But in this case it is very difficult and you will be in a position to prove that you were not aware that the items were stolen. This can be a long and drawn out emotional process and change your life forever.
It is also punishable by law if the property if of a certain dollar amount. Over five thousand dollars is the legal minimum to prosecute someone for this crime. There are other factors such as transferring over a state border and attempting to conceal the stolen property.
The prosecutor also has the burden to prove that you knew that the property was stolen. They also have to prove that you knowingly concealed the fact that you had the property. These facts are their responsibility. If you have proof that you were not aware the property was stolen, then it is your theft defense attorney’s job to prove it.
If you live in a state that separates receiving stolen property and possession of stolen property you could be in danger of having two charges files against you. A prosecution team will go after both crimes and try to convict you of both. This can possibly lead to double the sentence should you be found guilty.
These kinds of charges can be a life changing event. If you not aware of your receipt of stolen goods and then at a later date realize that you are then you need to consult a Houston theft defense lawyer immediately. They can guide you through what you need to do in reference to admission of this fact and how to return the property. Cooperating with authorities is your best bet in keeping yourself out of trouble as soon as you become knowledgeable of the situation.
The best thing to do in regards to these offenses is to seek out a criminal attorney if you have not already. Get one that specializes in these types of crimes. If you are associated with the person who has stolen the property it may be in your best interest to not share the same attorney.
Mr. Gonzalez is a Houston Criminal Lawyer and composes general articles about law matters. None of his articles are meant to be law advice. If you have been accused of theft in the state of Texas, please contact a Houston theft defense lawyer to give you direction with your case.