Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

I live in pa. A friend of mine 6 years ago stored a motorcycle he recently bought in my garage. Shortly thereafter he moved out of state. I am now moving and asked him what to do with the motorcycle. He said he did not care and since it is not worth much and he no longer had the paperwork for it. I traded it to a friend of a friend that is now retitling it as an abandoned bike. My question is ( i have no reason to believe this, but you have to wonder these days) if for some reason this bike was stolen or anything illegal could i be in trouble?


Asked on 9/28/12, 7:35 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Kotik Lawyer Michael Kotik | Criminal Lawyer

If you knew or reasonably believed to know that the bike was stolen you could be in trouble.

� 3925. Receiving stolen property.

(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of theft if he

intentionally receives, retains, or disposes of movable property

of another knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it

has probably been stolen, unless the property is received,

retained, or disposed with intent to restore it to the owner.

(b) Definition.--As used in this section the word

"receiving" means acquiring possession, control or title, or

lending on the security of the property.

However, in your case I think you would be fine. To the extent that at the time he gave you the bike you did not think that it was stolen.

Michael Kotik Lawyer at LegalPhilly.com

(215) 564-1010 (Direct Line)

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Answered on 9/30/12, 5:58 am


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