Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

Possession of stolen property

I have a friend who is now incarcerated in a NY State Jail for possession of stolen property. He didn't steal the object, but it was ''stashed'' at his house. The offender who actually stole the bike is not in jail because he was a minor at the time of the incident. My friend was on probation at the time of the incident and this is why he was sentenced to four months in jail. He also did not know that the property was stolen and kept it at his house because the offender was his friend. How is this justified? I was hoping for an explanation as to why he can be sentenced for this when he didn't know he was in the wrong at all. This is also his final year of high school, can the jail provide educational services so that when he returns home he can still finish and get his diploma?


Asked on 8/13/05, 4:44 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Valerie Masters Valerie Masters, P.A.

Re: Possession of stolen property

To be charged with possession of stolen property does not require the person actually steal the property.Since your friend plead guilty he was probaly advised 4 months was a good deal given the probation violation.While prisons have education most jails do not.

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Answered on 8/13/05, 5:50 pm


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