Houseguest Demanding Delivery Of His Abandoned Property

[GatorGirl]

I am in Florida, and no good deed goes unpunished, it must be true. I allowed a friend of a friend to leave some property at my home, and also stay a few days a week, aproximately 1-2 months. No $$ charged nothing signed, just trying to help. Long story, this person was sentenced to about 9 months in jail, I wasn't even aware of it for a couple of weeks. I was "ordered" by him in a letter (from jail) to deliver all of his belongings to his family, or it I would be held legally liable (felony, he says the value of his 'stuff' was over $2000). A 'veiled' threat in his letter told me we can do this the "easy way" or "hard way". I made all efforts to work with his family & finally got it all to them with the exception of heavy stuff (TV, Desk) that I was unable to lift or fit in my car. However, this was later taken to his family when I was able to have someone help. Now, several months later, he is out of jail and claims that I still have over a $1000 of his property. He again is warning me about the legal penalty of "theft" of his possessions, and that I won't "hear from him" next time. I am concerned, with cause - one, for my safety, and also how can I prove I gave all the stuff to his family? This loser had at least four different residences that I [I]now]know of, unfortunately it appears I may be the best shot he has at getting $$. Any advice? Where is the 'burden of proof' here, I know his family will not be honest if it would go against him, this man (I find out later) has a prison record, and a lot of jail time locally. I believe he is on probation and I kept the letter he sent me while in jail when he ordered me to return his stuff. Half of what he is claiming, I never saw....please spare the lecture, I knew better but trusted the word of a friend and like I said, no good deed goes unpunished.

[seniorjudge]

Tell the cops; make a record.

[aaron]

You don't have any obligation to track down the relatives of an ex-roommate and drop off his property. He moved out; it's his job to recover his property. If he's threatening you and demanding money for property he never even had, then it certainly makes sense to make a police report.

[GatorGirl]

Thank you for your advice, and I will notify the authorities. I felt uncomfortable when I received his letter in March 2006 (from jail), and after reading the details relative to a restraining order granted to his ex-wife, it added to my concern. Her statement included a reference to how he would kill her if he "messed with his stuff". Having learned this all too late, I will not continue to justify his actions or demands because of his situation, which initially of course was explained away and as always, this 'man' is the victim. He is unstable, and worse a coward at heart that does not like women who do not allow him to control them or boost ego. Which seems to justify a report to authorities and get this on the record. I have alerted my neighbors that he is not welcome on the property, has no business of any kind that would create a need for him to be at this residence. Again, thanks and I will follow your advice. As I reflect back on so many of his self serving stories, how he was the only stable one in any 'drama', and lie on lie about money he has 'coming' from a settlement etc. He is a pathological liar, and from my brief contact with his family, they're not much smarter so all feed off of each others 'reality' which is their truth. Just a note, which may explain what I am saying. He paid me for handling his business (home remodel, design, etc). when out of state, actually I rec'd reimbursement for expenses I had to cover materials for a job, advance of pay for one of his workers, and a stipend to reimburse allowing him to use my personal auto while seeing clients, bids on jobs etc. He paid me with a check for $150, which I told him to just make it to my landlord since I was going to pay rent, I put the cash with his check and paid it. You know what happened, NSF -- however the landlord did not find out immediately, and by the time I was told this 'person' was in jail. I did require that I get the $150 back for the NSF