Under California Penal Code 496, it is a crime for a person to purchase, acquire, receive, conceal, or sell any property that he or she knows to be stolen. This offense is called receiving stolen property and it can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony in California, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The most commonly used legal defense against this charge is that the defendant lacked the knowledge that the property was stolen (also known as “no knowledge”). Another common defense is that the person intended to return the stolen property to the owner or bring it to law enforcement at the time that he or she received it (“innocent intent”). Another is that the defendant never, in fact, had possession over the property (“no receipt of property”).

Three related charges in particular are often associated with the charge of receiving stolen property. These are embezzlement PC 503, extortion PC 518, and theft/appropriation of lost property PC 485.

If you have been charged with receiving stolen property or any of these related crimes, contact the law office of H. Charles Gorian today. We have years of experience dealing with these charges and we know the California laws that affect your situation. Our law firm has helped men and women throughout Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County, and we may be able to help you.

One phone call could be the difference between harsh criminal penalties and freedom. Call our lawyer today for a free, no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.