Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas

Hello Attourneys of the LawGuru Team. I will attempt to provide as much information as I can about the case.

I was living with 2 friends of mine at an apartment. One or both of them were names on the lease however I was not. They invited me to stay with them because they wanted help paying rent and I was happy to oblige because of the low cost.

Long story short, they both moved out and left me with the entire rent. I invited a couple of my friends to help share the rent with me and they promised they would have the money and came over with some posessions. One day they left and didn't come back leaving some of their things there including a skateboard and a guitar. They told me they were not able to come up with the rent money. I told them to come get the posessions and they did not for 3 weeks. When rent time came due to be paid, I pawned the guitar and skateboard in order to afford the rent.

Now the girl who owned the guitar is threatening to press charges on me for selling her guitar. My question is are the legal consequences that can happen? Does she have a case of theft of property?


Asked on 8/23/11, 4:01 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Cynthia Henley Cynthia Henley, Lawyer

You need to get the guitar out of pawn and get it back to her. You had no right to pawn it, even if she owed you money and even if she left the property at your place. Because it was left at your place for that length of time, the police may not do anything if they are contacted - but they might.

If you are not on the lease, why don't you just move out? The others who are on the lease will be the ones on the hook for the rent.

Read more
Answered on 8/23/11, 10:03 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Criminal Law questions and answers in Texas