Theft Defense Lawyers
Receiving stolen property is defined in RSA 637:7 as receiving, retaining or disposing of property that the defendant knows or should have known was stolen. Like most theft related charges, the level of the punishment will normally depend on the value of the property in question. If the value of the property is less than $1,000, the charge can be a class A misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail. If the value is greater than $1,000 but less than $1,500 the charge can be a class B felony carrying up to the 3 ½ to 7 years in prison. If the value is $1,500 or greater the charge can be a class A felony carrying up to the 7 ½ to 15 years in prison.
If the defendant has two prior convictions for theft related offenses a third charge can be brought as a felony regardless of the value of the property. If the property in question is a firearm it can be brought as a class A felony regardless of the value.
Often a charge of receiving stolen property will be brought when the police suspect the defendant of having committed a theft or a burglary, but they are not sure they can prove it. It is also common for the police to charge a defendant with receiving stolen property if he or she sells an item to a pawnshop and it later is identified as stolen.
The criminal defense attorneys of Cohen & Winters defend clients charged with receiving stolen property. If you’ve been charged, don’t wait — contact us to discuss your case today.
