My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
My daughter had a house guest stay several nights and watch the dogs while the house was empty. The guest stole several pieces jewelry worth ~$6K and sold them to a legitimate (albeit lowballing) jeweler for $1K (apparently for drug money). A few days later the pieces are discovered missing while the guest was still at the house. We call the police and the guest mentioned to the responding officer that he was high on meth and that he doesn't remember stealing anything but he once sold some jewelry to a particular jeweler. In other words, he told us where to find the pieces without actually admitting guilt. He is arrested that night for the meth use but not charged with a theft. The next day we find the missing pieces at the named jeweler and they have this 20-something year-old slime-bag's signature and his ID on file for the sale of those pieces. It sounds like a slam-dunk case. Not so fast.
The detective goes to the jeweler the next day and puts a 90-day hold on the stolen goods instead of taking them into evidence. The jeweler is pissed they are out $1K and we are told we can buy the pieces back. OK, I get that they need proof the pieces are stolen. If the kid is charged and convicted, I assume we get the pieces back without paying $1K. The police would not confirm this. I also don't know what happens if the 90 day period passes and the DA has either not yet brought charges against this kid or the case has not made it to court. Does anyone know what is typical in these situations?
BTW, this kid also stole two guitars but they have not yet been found so there is no concrete proof of this theft.
My daughter had a house guest stay several nights and watch the dogs while the house was empty. The guest stole several pieces jewelry worth ~$6K and sold them to a legitimate (albeit lowballing) jeweler for $1K (apparently for drug money). A few days later the pieces are discovered missing while the guest was still at the house. We call the police and the guest mentioned to the responding officer that he was high on meth and that he doesn't remember stealing anything but he once sold some jewelry to a particular jeweler. In other words, he told us where to find the pieces without actually admitting guilt. He is arrested that night for the meth use but not charged with a theft. The next day we find the missing pieces at the named jeweler and they have this 20-something year-old slime-bag's signature and his ID on file for the sale of those pieces. It sounds like a slam-dunk case. Not so fast.
The detective goes to the jeweler the next day and puts a 90-day hold on the stolen goods instead of taking them into evidence. The jeweler is pissed they are out $1K and we are told we can buy the pieces back. OK, I get that they need proof the pieces are stolen. If the kid is charged and convicted, I assume we get the pieces back without paying $1K. The police would not confirm this. I also don't know what happens if the 90 day period passes and the DA has either not yet brought charges against this kid or the case has not made it to court. Does anyone know what is typical in these situations?
BTW, this kid also stole two guitars but they have not yet been found so there is no concrete proof of this theft.
Stolen Property: How to Retrieve Stolen Property That Was Sold to a Legitimate Business in California
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