Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

Hi I have a question about pressing charges. This is my situation, the other day my sister's ex boyfriend came over very frantic and upset in a panic attack over his ex, my sister who was not home at the time and he asked for the engagement ring he gave her to have it back, which he paid for and has the reciets for. Which also my dad was outside with me when he asked for it, and i looked at my dad first and my dad said yeah go ahead and get it and i did. But Being I did that my sister said she wants to now press charges on me for giving it to him. Which he already took back and pawned. Can she really press charges on me for doing that? I didn't think I was doing aything wrong by it seeing as how in my eyes I thought it was rightfully his bc he had bought it.


Asked on 6/13/16, 1:14 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Eric Trabin Lucid Legal, PLLC

Of course she can "press charges," meaning she tells the police that she wants you arrested, but whether you will be charged with a crime is another matter. Although every situation is different, in general an engagement ring is a conditional gift. It is a gift conditioned on the promise of marriage. So when the engagement is off and the couple won't get married, the person with the ring is supposed to return it to the other. Like I said, there are exceptions but this is a general rule. As such, if her ex was the lawful owner of the ring (and it seems like there's a good chance he is) then no crime was committed by returning it to him.

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Answered on 6/13/16, 1:19 pm


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