In Washington, possession of stolen property means the defendant knowingly received stolen property and knew that it was stolen. There are different degrees to this crime, and they are as follows:

Possession of Stolen Property First Degree

Possessing Stolen Property in the First Degree happens when the defendant allegedly possesses stolen property which exceeds $5,000.00 in value. This charge is a Class B Felony punishable up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000.00 fine.

Possession of Stolen Property Second Degree 

Possessing Stolen Property in the Second Degree happens when the defendant allegedly possesses stolen property and its value exceeds $750.00 but does not exceed $5,000.00.  This charge is a Class C Felony punishable up to 5 years prison and a $10,000.00 fine.

Possession Stolen Property Third Degree

Possessing Stolen Property in the Third Degree happens when the defendant allegedly possesses stolen property and its value is less than $750.00. This charge is a gross misdemeanor punishable up to 1 year in jail and a $5,000.00 fine.

Defending Against Possession of Stolen Property Charges

There are various ways to defend a charge of possessing stolen property. For example, a competent attorney might prove the defendant was unaware the property was stolen, or that the defendant received the property with the intention of returning it to the rightful owner.

If you or someone you care about is charged with Possession of Stolen Property crimes in Skagit County or Whatcom County, call attorney Alexander Ransom today for a free, no-pressure case evaluation. Alexander has a reputation in the legal community as an aggressive, effective and experienced criminal defense attorney. It is crucial that you organize your defense strategy as soon as possible.