When Can I Sell Personal Belongings That Are Left in My Possession

My question involves personal property located in the State of: California

An ex friend asked me to hold 3 rings for a short period of time. This was over a year ago. about 3 months later she told me she no longer needed me to hold them and that she would pick them up. She never did pick them up or try to contact me, After about 6 months of trying to reach her, one day she contacted me (our friendship was off an on at this point). I again reminded her of the rings she said shed get them an again never followed through. a few months later i finally got ahold of her. I informed her that i moved an still had her rings... i said since she wouldn't get them that maybe i could drop them off in her mailbox an that if i could that i would let her know...but that she needed to get them otherwise. We since then got into an argument. It has been about 6-7 months , after many failed attempts to contact her i finally sold the rings. Could i be at fault if One day she decides to contact me again and ask for them back?? When I sold the rings I received less than 100$, and in fact she owed me money already. In selling the rings i received 5$ less than what she owed me. So at this point is it a fair assumption that she abandoned them?

Of course you can be found "at fault" - you could even be criminally prosecuted. But as they say, you can't unring a bell.

Okay you didnt answer the question..so im jus supposed to go on holding onto other peopeles belongings for the rest of my life just in case one day they decide they want them back. That just can't be so. There has to be a time limit of some sort..I looked at other web sites an it says the law states that if it is worth over 100$ that i can take it to the police or write the person a letter. But that is all i can find. It does not say anythin about what u can do if the amount is less than 100. That is why i went ahead an sold it, because it was worth less than 100$. An what about the money she owed me... Id like to know what the law states if anyone knows. Just for future reference, if this ever happens again id like to know what to do. Here ill ask again since its apparently confusing on what im asking.How long do i have to hold onto someone elses belongings before i can get rid of them???

Had you wanted to protect yourself, you would have asked these questions before selling somebody else's property. Unless you have a time machine, answering in more detail is a waste of time.

You can research the statute of limitations in your state in relation to any effort the owner might have made to recover his property from you, had you not sold it.

I would also like to point out that holding on to someone's jewelry is hardly a hardship. It requires little space. Its not like she had you holding on to three pieces of furniture that you had to cart from one place to another.

Well, seeing as im not supposed to post my personal information i dont see how u could assume im able to hold such property. Also i posted this because i wanted to know the answer to my question, not to be told to go look it up. I even mentioned i am having trouble finding the answers i would like to know. Everyone has the right to know the laws period. idk who is answering these but a real lawyer would be helpful an would have no problem helping me understand or look up such information. I can see i wont get any answers. I know i can not turn back time and all u are doing is stating the obvious. I thought that this web page was about helping someone or at least possibly sending a person in need of advice or an answer a web link where they could find such advice an answers to questions. I asked several specific questions about some information i have found, i asked if this was true. Apparently this is a lost hope, all i get is your respose to one question an that wasnt eveb my main question. I hope i can find what i need online, because apparently this web site is not what it sates to be "expert law". Please do not bother to respond your answers are not helpful to what i need to know. thank you. I will try to delete my account on this page as well.

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i dont see how u could assume im able to hold such property

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They're RINGS. You don't have pockets?

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idk who is answering these

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There's a disclaimer at the bottom of every single page of this forum that explains that the people answering are volunteers, and not necessarily attorneys.

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I thought that this web page was about helping someone

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You're not understanding something here: No one can help you now. You already disposed of property that was not yours. You are asking us to spend our time digging through California statutes to find an answer for you that is simply not going to help you. The time to ask your questions was BEFORE you sold your former friend's property, not after.

"idk who is answering these but a real lawyer would be helpful an would have no problem helping me understand or look up such information. I can see i wont get any answers."

May I suggest you make an appointment with a local lawyer since you don't believe anyone here?