Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

I live in Pennsylvania. In 1980 I was living in Tampa Fla where my expensive Gibson Les Paul guitar was stolen from my residence while I was on Christmas vacation in Maryland. For the past nine years, I have been running an ad in Vintage Guitar magazine offering a substantial reward for the safe return of my guitar. Last Friday I received a call from a gentleman in Hayward California, claiming to be in possession of my guitar. He described "in detail" features positively identifying it as my stolen guitar. He claims that his father purchased the guitar in Tampa in Jan. 1981, and he has a receipt proving it. On Friday, he claimed to have sold the guitar to a third party for $400, and that the seller had spent the money and the "buyer" was on his way to retrieve the guitar. The "seller" told me that he would have to give this guy the guitar or the money. I pleaded with him not to sell my guitar. I notified the Hayward Police Department yesterday, and the chief notified this "seller" The seller contacted me last night saying that his sister had paid the potential buyer $450 so that the seller could retain possession. The seller told me that I could buy the guitar for $300 yesterday. Today the seller contacted me informing me that his sister had spoken with a California Judge and that legally they "own" my guitar because it is a part of their deceased father's estate. They claim that there is nothing I can do about it, and that if I don't come up with $250 by tomorrow, they will "donate" the guitar to an auction. I informed the seller that if I were to get the guitar back, it would go on record as the longest time period of a guitar being returned to it's rightful owner but he doesn't care. Please help. Is it really California law that they now legally own my guitar?: Should I press charges and how do you go about it, seeing that I am three thousand miles away.


Asked on 11/26/13, 8:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

SAUL SEGAN SAUL H SEGAN ATTY AT LAW

This is a subject close to my heart. Let's kick it around a bit on the phone.

At no charge, of course.

Call me after 10 this morning on my cell phone.

215-370-2608

My site. Www.saulhsegan.com

Let me see if creativity and ingenuity prevail!

Best wishes,

Saul

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Answered on 11/27/13, 1:16 am


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