Can I be arrested for purchasing stolen property in Brevard?

August 17, 2022 4:01 pm
Written by admingl
Categories: Arrested | Brevard County FL | Crimes | Criminal Defense | Florida Laws | Police | Practice Areas | Theft

Short answer? Yes.

Anyone who willingly and/or knowingly attempted to procure or obtained property that is rightfully owned by another individual can be arrested for possession of stolen goods.

Possession of stolen goods in Brevard County falls under Florida Statute Title XLVI. Under this statute, stolen property refers to any object or service that has been taken without permission from the rightful owner. Having control over this property (possession) or transferring or obtaining such property (purchasing) is considered illegal and carries with it steep penalties if convicted.

Even in situations where ‘absolute proof’ of theft, or knowledge of the theft, is unknown, prosecutors can use circumstantial evidence to assert and prove that you should have reasonably known that the goods purchased were stolen property.

This is why speaking to law enforcement without first consulting a competent defense lawyer is ill-advised. A major aspect of defense strategy in such cases surrounds the circumstances in which the goods were sought out and purchased.

Tags: Circumstantial Evidence, Florida Statute Title XLVI, Stolen Property

Categorized in: Arrested, Brevard County FL, Crimes, Criminal Defense, Florida Laws, Police, Practice Areas, Theft

This post was written by: admingl

Brevard County, Florida Lawyer

Many of the clients that we represent for criminal charges in Brevard County have no prior criminal record. Certain professions require special state or federal certification such as doctors, lawyers, nurses, private and public school teachers, state and federal law enforcement officers and members of the military. Individuals in these professions face special challenges after an arrest and prosecution.

Even if the charges are ultimately dropped, those indirect consequences can have a huge impact on the individual's career and future employment opportunities. Similar problems impact individuals working as defense contractors or who are required to carry a firearm or use a concealed weapons permit for their employment.

Even high school and college students can face serious immediate consequences to their education after an arrest or criminal accusation. Our criminal defense attorneys work with these individuals to minimize both the direct and indirect consequences of an arrest and prosecution. We work with clients throughout Palm Bay, Rockledge, Titusville, Cocoa, West Melbourne, Indian Harbour Beach, and nearby areas.

The Florida criminal defense team at Germain Legal will zealously fight for their clients. We take an aggressive approach coupled with a meticulous attention to detail. We believe that by filing and litigating all viable motions we can often negotiate a better resolutions to the case or force the prosecutor to drop the charges. Florida law provides for important protections by filing motions to exclude evidence, motions to suppress statements, and motions to dismiss criminal charges.