Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

Petty Theft of miss-placed pursue

While at a party 18 months ago a women�s purse was taken and thrown into a dumpster. The next day the person who took the purse called the party host and they created a 'miss-placed' pursue alibi before the police were notified. Was a crime committed if the pursue was returned un-molested? If the women never pressed charges am I obligated as a 'good Samaritan� to call the police ? Because of his participation, is the host considered an accessories after the fact ? Several people after the party found out about the offense, are they consider accessories after the fact ? Is there a statue of limitations after 18 months ?


Asked on 1/23/07, 2:56 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Petty Theft of miss-placed pursue

You claim that this purse was returned "unmolested" meaning, I assume, that it was returned to its rightful owner in an undamaged condition and with its contents intact, and that all of this in fact occurred more than 18 months ago. (FYI, people are molested and not items of property such as purses.)

If all of the above is true, your other questions are what the law calls

"moot". (Look it up if you don't know or can't figure out the meaning.)

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Answered on 1/23/07, 4:57 pm


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