Receiving Stolen Property
There are various theft offenses under Minnesota law; one of them is receiving stolen property. The offense does not involve committing the act of theft. Instead, it’s considered knowingly being in possession of stolen goods.
You may not have stolen the property, but you will be penalized as if you did. Not only this, but victims of the crime can sue you in civil court. Because of the potential of both a criminal and civil case, it’s highly advised you retain legal counsel.
Criminal Defense Attorney in Apple Valley
Browsing the internet for information about your charges will only add more stress to your situation. Your best course of action is to speak with a highly experienced criminal defense attorney. James Blumberg has successfully defended theft-related charges. He will use his experience in criminal law to your advantage and build a defense strategy in your best interest.
Call (952) 431-7758 to schedule a time to speak with Mr. Blumberg. He is based in Dakota County but also assists clients in areas such as Ramsey County, Scott County and Washington County.
Information Center
- What is Considered Receiving Stolen Property?
- Elements of the Offense
- Penalties for Receiving Stolen Property
- Additional Resources
What is Receiving Stolen Property?
If you have been accused of receiving stolen property, you may be unaware of what that means. The crime may not sound serious, but the truth is, it can be. When you are charged with receiving stolen property, you are accused of being in possession of stolen goods.
According to the Minnesota Statutes, you are guilty of the offense if you do any of the following with stolen property:
- Possess
- Transfer
- Purchase
- Conceal
- Receive
Elements of the Offense
The state will be required to prove you knew the property was stolen to convict you of the offense. Over time the laws have evolved to grant prosecutors more leeway in proving you knew the property was stolen. In addition to direct knowledge, prosecutors can claim you have indirect or circumstantial knowledge of the stolen goods.
Indirect knowledge can occur if a third-party informed you the property was stolen before you took possession of it. This can include a news story over the theft or a friend telling you about the crime. Circumstantial knowledge involves you having reason to believe the property was stolen. For example, assume you have a friend with a history of theft, and they brought you new shoes, which were stolen. Prosecutors will argue you should have known the property was stolen since you knew your friend had committed theft in the past.
Prosecutors may also use “stolen property indicators,” to prove guilt. Stolen property indicators can range from tampered serial numbers, prior registration of the property to another owner and intact security tags.
In addition to knowledge, prosecutors will also have to prove you intended to deprive the rightful owner of the stolen property. This can include selling the property, keeping it for yourself or giving it to another person. The state’s case will be stronger if you took action to keep or sell the property once you knew it was stolen. However, a criminal defense attorney can argue you were avid on returning the property once you realized it was stolen.
Penalties for Receiving Stolen Property
While you did not commit theft, you will be charged and penalized as if you did. Like theft, receiving stolen property is penalized based on the value of the stolen goods. The more costly the property, the more severe you can expect the penalties to be.
Listed below are the penalties for receiving stolen property in Minnesota:
- Receiving stolen property valued at less than $500 is punishable by the following:
- Up to 90 days behind bars
- A fine of up to $1,000
- Both a fine and incarceration
- Receiving stolen property worth $500 or more but less than $1,000 is punishable by:
- Up to one year behind bars; or
- A fine of up $3,000; or
- Both a fine and incarceration
- Possessing stolen property worth $1,000 or more but less than $5,000 is punishable by the following:
- Up to five years behind bars; or
- A fine of up to $10,000; or
- Both a fine and incarceration
- Possessing stolen property worth $5,000 or more but less than $35,000 is punishable by:
- Up to 10 years behind bars; or
- A fine of up to $20,000; or
- Both a fine and incarceration
- Receiving stolen property worth more than $35,000 is punishable by the following:
- Up to 20 years behind bars; or
- A fine of up to $100,000; or
- Both a fine and incarceration
Criminal penalties are just the tip of the ice burg for receiving stolen property. The Minnesota Statutes allows victims of the original theft offense to bring civil action against you and the individual convicted of theft. Through civil action, the claimant can seek three times the amount of actual damages or $1,500, whichever is greater, the cost of the suit and attorney’s fees.
Receiving Stolen Property | Minnesota Statutes – Read through the section of the Minnesota Statutes governing receiving in stolen property. You can read the legal definition of the offense, gain access to other theft crimes and find out the definition of value. The statutes can be read on the official website of the Minnesota Legislature.
Penalties for Receiving Stolen Property | Minnesota Statutes – Follow the link provided to read more about the penalties for theft. You can find out when penalties can be increase and how you would be penalized if the stolen goods were a scheduled drug or motor vehicle.
Apple Valley Criminal Defense Lawyer
Allow yourself peace of mind and speak with James Blumberg Law. James Blumberg will thoroughly explain what you may be up against and do everything he can to ease this stressful situation. You can schedule a time to speak with Mr. Blumberg by calling (952) 431-7758.
Some of the areas James Blumberg Law serves include Apple Valley, Saint Paul, Shakopee and Woodbury.