Q: How can a person be found guilty in trafficking in stolen goods when they didn't know it was stolen?
I found jewelry in trash found at curb. (I find so much on curbs and make money selling it on FB marketplace) Took it to coin shop to see if it was gold. I got $182 for it. Fast forward. I took it to trial and was found guilty by jury. Gods honest truth I did not steal it nor did I know it was stolen. I had a public defender who I met for the first time on the day of jury select/trial and talked to him for 30 minutes 2 days before trial. Prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt but the jury came back in 30 min with a guilty verdict. I feel the victim got to a juror because she was willing to pay a large sum of money to have the thiefs legs broken.
A: You can be CHARGED with anything. The State will still have to prove your guilt. If you were in possession of stolen goods, the prosecutor will assume you're guilty. Only the COURT offers you the presumption of innocence, the prosecutor is not so bound.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
