ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Receiving Stolen Property & Auto Theft Defense | Haskell & Dyer
Having Something Is Not the Same as Knowing It Was Stolen.
These cases turn on knowledge: whether you actually knew property was stolen. In car cases especially, possession is not the same as theft, and we challenge exactly what the State can really prove.
Before You Say Anything
Do not explain how you got it.
The whole case turns on whether you knew the property was stolen. Trying to explain where it came from can hand the State the knowledge element it has to prove, the hardest part of its case. Stay quiet, ask for a lawyer, and call before you say a word about how anything came into your hands.
The Element That Decides It
Knowledge Is Everything
Both of these charges hinge on what you knew. Possessing something, even a stolen car, is not a crime unless the State can prove the required knowledge.
Receiving Stolen Property
Did You Know It Was Stolen?
The State has to prove you knew, or reasonably should have known, the property was stolen. Buying something secondhand, accepting a gift, or holding an item for someone is not a crime if you did not know its history.
Auto Theft
Possession Is Not Theft
Being in or having a car is not the same as stealing it. Maryland separates outright theft from unauthorized use, and which one applies, or whether either does, depends on what the State can actually prove about your knowledge and intent.
What We Handle
Common Charges We Defend
From a secondhand purchase gone wrong to a car case, we handle the full range.
Receiving stolen property
Possession of stolen goods
Motor vehicle theft
Unauthorized use of a vehicle
Possession of a stolen vehicle
Stolen property by value tiers
Online marketplace purchases
Pawn or resale cases
What's at Stake
Real Exposure, Graded by Value
Like theft, these charges climb with the value of the property, and a conviction follows you.
Record
A theft-related conviction on background checks
Felony
Felony exposure on higher value property
Jobs
A crime of dishonesty employers weigh heavily
Restitution
Responsibility for the claimed value involved
How We Defend These Charges
Knowledge is the hardest thing for the State to prove. We attack it, along with value and the link to you.
We Attack Knowledge
If you did not know property was stolen, the charge cannot stand. We show where the State's proof of knowledge falls short.
We Separate Use From Theft
In car cases, we press the line between unauthorized use and outright theft, which can change the charge significantly.
We Challenge the Value
Value sets the exposure. We push back on inflated amounts that turn a misdemeanor into a felony.
We Test Possession
Shared cars, shared spaces, and brief contact all raise doubt about whether the property was really yours to answer for.
Common Questions
Receiving Stolen Property & Auto Theft, Answered
I didn't know it was stolen. Can I still be charged?
You can be charged, but to convict, the State has to prove you knew, or reasonably should have known, the property was stolen. An honest secondhand purchase, a gift, or holding something for a friend is not a crime if you did not know its history. That knowledge requirement is the heart of the defense.
What's the difference between auto theft and unauthorized use?
Auto theft generally means taking a vehicle intending to permanently deprive the owner. Unauthorized use is a lesser charge for using a vehicle without permission but without that intent to keep it. Which one applies, or whether either does, turns on intent and knowledge, and that line can change the case dramatically.
The car was in my possession, but I didn't steal it. Now what?
Possession is not the same as theft. The State still has to prove you knew the car was stolen or that you took it. People end up in borrowed, shared, or handed-off vehicles without knowing the full story, and that gap between possession and knowledge is often a real weakness in the case.
I bought it online or at a low price. Does that prove I knew?
Not by itself. The State may point to a low price or an informal sale as a sign you should have known, but plenty of legitimate deals look like that. We put the purchase in context, what you were told, what was reasonable to believe, to counter the claim that you had the required knowledge.
Can these charges be reduced?
Often, yes. Because value grades the charge and knowledge drives it, challenging an inflated value or weak proof of knowledge can reduce a felony to a misdemeanor, or an auto theft to unauthorized use. First-time, lower value cases may also qualify for diversion or probation before judgment.
Charged With Receiving Stolen Property or Auto Theft? Knowledge Is the Whole Case.
The State has to prove you knew, and that is often where these cases break down. Tell us what happened and get an honest read on your defense. The first conversation is free.
Arrested after hours? Call our 24/7 line: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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