State v. Beale

Mrs. Johnson recognized several items stolen from her home months earlier in the antique shop belonging to Beale (defendant), noticed her own initials on them, and called the police. Beale sold the items anyway, even after a police officer had already warned him not to. At trial, Beale testified he had bought the items at different times from people he considered reliable and had receipts for many of them, and that he believed he was entitled to sell them regardless of the officer's warning. Beale's attorney asked the court to instruct the jury that merely selling the items after being warned they might be stolen did not by itself prove guilt if Beale had a valid receipt and lawful possession. The court refused, Beale was convicted of knowingly concealing stolen property, and he appealed.