Many criminal cases related to theft are straightforward. The state accuses an individual of burglarizing a home, shoplifting from a business or robbing someone.
Those accused of misappropriating the resources or capital of other parties may face criminal charges as a result. In some scenarios involving higher-value property or other aggravating factors, prosecutors may even be able to bring felony charges against the people accused of theft.
Some people may end up accused of theft because they agreed to a favor for a friend or purchased suspiciously cheap items at a garage sale or through a digital marketplace.
Possession of stolen goods is theft
Under Nebraska state statutes, prosecutors can charge people with a theft offense if they store, resell or otherwise possess stolen property. Some people might end up accused of theft because they agreed to store stolen items for a friend or family member.
Others could face theft charges because they purchased stolen goods from others or accepted that stolen property as a gift. The party in possession of stolen assets is theoretically subject to the same types of penalties as the person who actually took those items from the original owner.
So long as the state can show that they knew or should have known the property was stolen, they can face the same penalties as the actual thief. In some cases, they may face charges while the person who actually stole and resold the items escapes prosecution.
Understanding when the state can pursue theft charges can help people as they try to develop a defense strategy. Those accused of misappropriating other people’s resources may need help developing a criminal defense strategy.