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According to general receiving stolen property laws, it is a crime to accept or purchase any
In order to be convicted on charges for receiving stolen property, a prosecutor will typically
have to prove the following elements first:
The property must be received by some other individual aside from the thief who allegedly
stole it;
The person who receives the stolen property must have either had actual knowledge or
should have known that the property in question was stolen; and
The receiver must have possessed the intent to permanently deprive the rightful owner of
their property (e.g., by keeping it, hiding it, selling it, giving it away, etc.).
Again, the rules and requirements for proving the crime of receiving stolen property will vary by
jurisdiction. Thus, in some states, a prosecutor may need to demonstrate that the defendant aided
a thief by accepting and/or purchasing the stolen goods. In addition, other states may distinguish
between the act of possessing and receiving stolen property.
Therefore, you should consider hiring a local criminal defense attorney immediately for further
advice on the relevant laws in your state and to provide legal representation in criminal court if
you are facing charges for receiving stolen property. It is especially important to hire an attorney
for representation if the charges against you constitute a felony offense since the consequences
for being convicted may include a term of imprisonment.