Receiving Stolen Property
In Ohio, you do not have to be the person who stole the property to be charged with a theft offense. There are other factors involved in theft crimes that can land a person who is not the original thief in trouble with the law. A good example of this is the charge of receiving stolen property. An experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer serving Franklin County will work with you to fight against your Columbus receiving stolen property charges and move for a favorable outcome.
Columbus Receiving Stolen Property Defense Lawyer
A conviction for a theft offense like receiving stolen property can severely damage your credibility as a moral, honest person as well as land you with jail time and hefty fines. If you are faced with a receiving stolen property charge in Franklin County or the surrounding counties of Pickaway, Madison, Delaware, Licking, or Fairfield, contact the experienced Columbus theft defense lawyers of Joslyn Law Firm.
We will fight to protect your rights while exposing cracks in the prosecution’s case against you. For your free consultation on what Joslyn Law Firm can do for your receiving stolen property case in Franklin County, call (614) 444-1900 today.
Receiving Stolen Property in Ohio Defined
The Ohio theft offense of receiving stolen property is defined in O.R.C. § 2913.51. According to this statute, it is against the law to receive, retain, or dispose of property if you know or have reasonable cause to believe that the property was obtained through an act of thievery. Additionally, it is not a defense to the charge that the alleged offender did not commission the theft offense if he or she accepted the stolen property after it had been explicitly represented to him or her as stolen.
A conviction of this charge is considered a theft offense, and should therefore be taken very seriously, as it will affect your reliability as a good and honest person in society and for things like immigration, education, and prospective employment. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you fight both sets of consequences, statutory and civil.
Consequences for Franklin County Receiving Stolen Property Charge
Generally, simple receiving stolen property is a first-degree misdemeanor if the property is valued at $999 or less, an offense that can result in a maximum punishment of 180 days (6 months) in prison and a $1,000 fine. However with a few additional considerations, receiving stolen property quickly becomes a felony offense. It is a fifth-degree felony to receive a stolen credit card, blank check, license plate, a blank motor vehicle registration form, a blank driver’s license, or any property valued from $1,000-$7,500. A fifth-degree felony has the maximum penalty of 6 months to 1 year and fines up to $2,500.
Receiving stolen property is a felony of the fourth degree if the property is a motor vehicle, dangerous drug, firearm, dangerous ordnance such as a ballistic knife or explosives, or if the stolen property is valued between $7,500 and $150,000 – an offense punishable by 6-18 months of prison and fines up to $5,000. It is a third-degree felony to receive stolen property valued at $150,000 or more, and is punishable by a $10,000 fine and 1-5 years of prison time.
As of July 1, 2013, the offense of receiving a stolen special purchase article or a stolen bulk merchandise container is also a receiving stolen property offense, graded as a fifth-degree felony. A bulk merchandise container is defined in O.R.C. § 4737.012 as any plastic or wooden carrier or holder used by a manufacturer or distributor to transport merchandise to wholesale and retail outlets. Ohio Revised Code § 4737.04 lists what constitutes a “special purchase article,” and includes the following:
- Beer kegs
- Cable, wire, electrical components, and related equipment
- Grave markers
- Guardrails for bridges, highways, and roads
- Highway and street signs
- Street light poles and fixtures
- Manhole covers
- Metal historical, commemorative, and memorial markers and plaques,
- Grocery carts
- Metal bossies
- Rail spikes, rail ties, and other railroad material
- Burnt wire
In addition to hefty fines and jail time, felonies come with restricted and reduced rights, limited educational and professional opportunities, and a social stigma. An experienced Franklin County theft defense lawyer will help you fight against a misdemeanor or felony receiving of stolen property conviction in Columbus.
Joslyn Law Firm | Franklin County Attorney for Receiving Stolen Property
If you have been charged with receiving stolen property in Columbus, Dublin, Delaware, Grove City, Westerville, Lancaster, Springfield, Reynoldsburg, or any of the surrounding areas, the experienced theft defense lawyers of Joslyn Law Firm in Franklin County are ready to fight for a favorable outcome in your case. Your first consultation with Joslyn Law Firm is free, so call (614) 444-1900 today and schedule yours.
