Possession of Stolen Property
Possession of stolen property differs from the two variations of larceny in that one need not have been the actual person to steal the goods that they are in possession of. Knowingly harboring stolen goods with the intent to profit from off them in some way is a crime, punishable by law.
Simply put, if Defendant (A) shoplifts electronics from a department store and stashes them in the home belonging to Defendant (B), then Defendant (A) may be found guilty of larceny while Defendant (B) may be found guilty of possession of stolen property.
Possession of stolen property can either be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the total combined value of the stolen goods in question:
| $ Amount of Stolen Goods | Degree of Charge | Class of Charge |
| Under $1,000 | 5th | Class-A Misdemeanor |
| Between $1,000 – $3,000 | 4th | Class-E Felony |
| Between $3,000 – $50,000 | 3rd | Class-D Felony |
| Between $50,000 – $1,000,000 | 2nd | Class-C Felony |
| Above $1,000,000 | 1st | Class-B Felony |
As the degree lowers, the potential time in jail correlatively rises.
Contact a New York Possession of Stolen Property Lawyer
Whether or not you were involved in the actual robbery, facing a possession of stolen goods charge is a very serious offense. At a time like this, it may be in your best interest to retain counsel and begin working on a solid defense. At Kaplan Lawyers PC, we have a team of attorneys well-versed in the intricacies of stolen property law, and we can help you prove your innocence. We can help drive down the degree of your charge thus reducing your monetary fines and, potentially, sparing you from overlong stays in jail or on probation. For a free consultation, contact us today.
Attorney Jared S. Kaplan
Attorney Jared S. Kaplan has focused his career on advancing his legal knowledge though the day to day practice of law. Jared is a partner in the law firm of Kaplan Lawyers PC in Syosset, New York and has been a practicing attorney for nearly 20 years. His career started in litigation, so Jared is aware of the pitfalls in litigation and uses that knowledge in the representation of his clients in complex matters. [ Attorney Bio ]