Legal Question in Criminal Law in Ohio

Object found, possible issues

On my afternoon walk to the grocery store, I found a class ring on the ground in front of an industrial lot (by the side of the curb, I think the place is abandoned). It caught my eye, so I naturally picked it up and thought it looked neat. Friends told me to bring it to a pawn shop - I've never done this before. So, I decided to go, and when they started entering my information in the computer to start the transaction, I panicked, wondering if it could've be stolen prior to being on the side of the curb (the guy said it was woth ~$30). I backed out, the guy gave me a weird / dirty look, and I left.

I didn't think anything of it, until my friends said I could be in trouble. I've never been in trouble with the law for anything - I just found it on the side of the road, in some dirt and grime. So I'm afraid. I've thought, even though I did find the ring, I want to give it to whoever used to have it, like send it to the high school and have them find whose ring it used to be. Plus, I'm more than tired of holding onto it. I'm a moral person and this has been eating at me.

Can anyone help?


Asked on 7/06/09, 10:24 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Dan Guinn Guinn Law Firm, LLC

Re: Object found, possible issues

It appears the ring is lost property. Although you can take it to the police or the high school in order to find the owner, it is unlikely that he or she can be found. Therefore, the ring is yours since you found it.

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Answered on 7/07/09, 5:32 am
Bruce Rutsky Petronzio Schneier Co. L.P.A.

Re: Object found, possible issues

Assuming that you really did find the ring, you may want to turn it in to the local police dept.

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Answered on 7/07/09, 11:10 am


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