Can You Be Charged With Theft for Selling Your Ex's Property

My question involves civil rights in the State of: ohio

My childs father had moved out of my apartment two months ago and left his ps4 and tv behind. I had texted and called him multiple times asking him to come get his stuff and never got a reply. I finally decided to call the local police station to ask if i would get in trouble for selling the ps4.. i explained the situation and was told i could do what i wanted with the ps4. So i sold it and my ex showed up at my house today with the local police. The police told me the dispatcher was wrong for telling me that and i could possibly get charged for selling his property. So my ex went and filed a police report and i guess he's going to take it from there. Does anyone know if im going to get in trouble for this or get charged?

It's up to the prosecutor. There appears to be no law on how to deal with abandoned property of a tenant. I doubt a court will accept a couple Months of calls and texts especially with no response will be adequate to allow you to dispose of the property.


at the least you owe the guy the money you received when selling the property.

Well what about the fact that the dispatcher gave me permission (told me i could sell it)

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Quoting Kam0526

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Well what about the fact that the dispatcher gave me permission (told me i could sell it)

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The dispatcher is neither your attorney or a judge. Only your attorney should be advising you and only a judge can actually give you permission to dispose of the property.


The dispatchers statement might be considered but since the dispatcher is not an attorney, they cannot give you legal advice.

Ugh.. i should of known that.. thank you for telling me this info!

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Quoting Kam0526

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My question involves civil rights in the State of: ohio

My childs father had moved out of my apartment two months ago and left his ps4 and tv behind. I had texted and called him multiple times asking him to come get his stuff and never got a reply. I finally decided to call the local police station to ask if i would get in trouble for selling the ps4.. i explained the situation and was told i could do what i wanted with the ps4. So i sold it and my ex showed up at my house today with the local police. The police told me the dispatcher was wrong for telling me that and i could possibly get charged for selling his property. So my ex went and filed a police report and i guess he's going to take it from there. Does anyone know if im going to get in trouble for this or get charged?

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While I do not necessarily disagree with the previous response you received, there is decent chance that the DA won't be interested in prosecuting this one, assuming that the police report is thorough.

The police dispatcher was incorrect and simply gave an opinion. Unless your ex had stated he no longer wanted the property, it was not yours to sell.

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Quoting qwaspolk69

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The police dispatcher was incorrect and simply gave an opinion. Unless your ex had stated he no longer wanted the property, it was not yours to sell.

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At some point property does become abandoned, and if the proper procedures are followed, can be sold. The problem in this case is that the proper procedures were not followed. If they had been, the ex probably would have picked up the items.

Is there a reason why you won't simply give him the money?