Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property Attorneys in Michigan

Whether buying online, buying from a friend you somewhat know, or buying from someone else, it’s important to make sure that the product isn’t stolen. If you do find out that the product is stolen, you may have to forfeit the property to the police. However, if you discover that the property is stolen and you conceal the stolen property, then you can be charged with a crime in Michigan.

Known as receiving and stealing stolen property, and written in the Penal Code under § 750.535, this crime occurs when a person buys, receives, possesses, conceals, or aids in the concealment of property that is embezzled, stolen, or converted. And if you were charged with this crime, you’ll need to get the leading theft defense attorneys in Michigan. At Grabel & Associates, we offer a comprehensive, vigorous legal representation and defense. To get your case started, call our Michigan criminal defense law firm at 1-800-342-7896. Free consultations are available.

Penalties for Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property

The penalty for receiving and concealing stolen property depends on the circumstances of the alleged crime, the monetary amount of the stolen property, and prior criminal history, among other factors. If any of the following apply, you can be charged with a felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $15,000 or three times the value of the property:

• The value of the property is $20,000 or more
• The value of the property is $1,000-20,000 and the person has two or more prior convictions of receiving and concealing stolen property

You can be charged with a felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $10,000 or three times the value of the property if any of the following apply:

• The value of the property is $1,000-20,000
• The value of the property is $200-1,000 and the person has one or more prior convictions for receiving and concealing stolen property

You can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail a fine up to $2,000 or three times the value of the property if any of the following apply:

• The value of the property is $200-1,000
• The value of the property is less than $200 and the person has one or more prior convictions for receiving and concealing stolen property or an equivalent offense under a local ordinance.

If you receive and conceal a stolen motor vehicle, the charge is the same but, because of the value of a car, you can be charged with a felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000 or three times the value of the property.

Defenses for Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property

There is a key defense in a receiving and concealing stolen property case, and it involves showing the defendant didn’t know that the property was stolen. The reason for this is because receiving and concealing is not a strict liability crime, and the prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you knew the property was stolen.

It is essential to remember that a dealer or collector of merchandise or property who fails to take due diligence on his/her purchases (making sure the property is not stolen) may be presumed to have bought the property knowing it was stolen.

Contact the Leading Theft & Property Crime Attorneys in Michigan

It can be difficult to know whether or not the received property is stolen, and for this reason, one of the key defenses is proving that you didn’t know the property was stolen. With the help of the criminal defense attorneys at Grabel & Associates, we’ll exhaust every possibility under Michigan law to prove your innocence, get the charges dismissed or dropped, or achieve reduced or alternative sentencing. If you were charged with receiving and concealing stolen property, contact Grabel & Associates today at 1-800-342-7896 for a free consultation.