Intellectual Property Law

Charged with receiving stolen property?

I have a friend who was summons to court with the above charge. The crime was not commited, there is no witness to the supposed crime, only assumption, and there is no proof this person ever received the property. The police did not even bother searching because it was such a silly accusation, but felt there was enough evidence in the accusation to charge. This person tried to get the state state to seize a starving and neglected dog, and then it dissappeared. The owners are blaming this person as they had the dogs interest in mind prior to the dog missing. Can this person go to jail or be fined when there is no proof of anything at all? The funny thing is, the 'owners' are not even looking for the dog, and supposedly waited 3 days before even reporting it missing. The dog was not even theirs, they were being paid to care for it by someone who moved away. (they prob still are). They have not looked for the dog at all, or had the police look for it. They filed the complaint with the local animal control, because he had been to the house frequently looking for a reason to take the dog cause they knew of him. He is the one who handed it over to the police.

Public Comments

1. if they cant prove it, itll most likely be dropped./
2. good one for Judge Judy...lol
3. If the dog wasn't found on your friend's property and there is no evidence he took the dog, then, no, he shouldn't be convicted. It sounds to me like a citizen's complaint not a police officer complaint. Note that the people accusing him may be willing to lie under oath though, so he should be prepared to have witnesses who can say they never saw the dog at his house. He should take this case to trial if the prosecutor won't dismiss it outright. If I were his attorney, I would certainly advise him to try the case because the allegation sounds like a load of bunk.
4. incent until proven guilty!
5. Tough subject,,, If im reading your situation correctly, This party called animal services and reported a abused and or neglected pet. Subsequently said dog went missing,,and now the owners are propering a charge that your friend secreted the dog away from them, and now there demanding to know the dogs whereabouts. If your towns or cities, or countys assistant states attorneys office, has nothing better to do then file a BS warrant for appearance by this person, for a matter based only on supposition, then you need to fire each and every dip wad in your (ASA's) office. Answer is Yes this can go to a hearing, and a action can be entered by the state, However Bogus this may be,,, Your friend needs to consult an attorney and have representation,, Hopefully a writ can be filed for dismissal before this ever gets anywhere,