Receipt of Stolen Property

For a year or so i have placed an local ad in the newspaper buying electronics, computers etc. I always get ID's from people to assure if the stuff does come up stolen. It wont be on me. (Used to shop at the pawnshops, so i know the criteria)

Recently, i bought a laptop from a person, then a week later, he calls me and tells me its stolen and it needs to be returned.
He had bought it from a 14 yr old kid and then sold it to me. I also spoke to the grandma of the boy about the situation.

After getting it back (it sold and i had it shipped/returned), i tried to contact the person who sold it to me, after
numerous attempts , i got nowhere, not returning calls etc.

I spoke to the grandma who knew the man (she is the one who got in contact with him), after a week or so, i got the laptop back and
tried to get in contact with the guy again, spoke to the grandma and wanted to give it back but i didnt want to lose out on the money
i spend for it. The grandson got $50.00 from the guy and then i gave the guy $300.00. i did not know it was stolen until
the phone call. I tried to make alot of attempts to get my money back and return the laptop which i had no problem.

Well after speaking to the grandma and no luck from the other guy, i met the grandma and we agreed that $200.00 would be
the amount to return the laptop. I was already out $150.00 and thought, well ok,

To my amazement today, i was met with police and taken to the station for questioning.

Seems i am taking a lot of the heat, this other guy has $300.00 from me, the grandson stole the laptop, the grandma has $50.00 (which the other guy paid the grandson)
and i am facing some legal troubles.

I am a 35 yr old professional and have never been in trouble before..

I gave my statement to the police and now i am awaiting to see if the DA will go ahead and issue a warrant, then i will
find a criminal attorney..turn myself in...

What am i looking at here?... I guess lesson learned if something is told to me its stolen, you eat the cost and return
it to the police station. Funny thing is, i have his information (license) he gave me, seems they should be trying to get
him rather than me.

The basis of the charge against you would be their belief that you are in cahoots with the person who bought the laptop from the kid? Your attempt to get the grandmother to pay for the laptop after you found out it was stolen from her? Not following your state's laws governing resale shops? Something else?

I dont think the belief was that i was working with the guy that stole the laptop.

He bought the laptop from the grandmas son (who stole the laptop). The guy then sold it to me.I got his ID and paid a reasonable price for the laptop.

He called me a week later after the grandson was caught on tape stealing the laptop, he told her where he sold the laptop. he contacted me, told it it was stolen, i got it back from the person i sold it to, tried to contact him to get my money back for the laptop. Couldnt get a hold of him, tried the grandma (who knew him and where he lived), nothing was happening, so i told her to try and come up with some money herself so i would not be out any more money than i needed to be

she agreed on the amount, then when i show up to give her the laptop back, she has the police there and they take me in for questioning.

i was trying just to get some of my money back, i was already out most of the money already. To me i dont understand why the police didnt go after the other guy, put pressure on him, the grandma knew where the guy lived, i didnt. What sucks is, i called the grandma with updates, etc.. Trying to work something out

It's hard to give you any suggestions when you don't yet fully understand what's happening. You should consult a criminal defense lawyer.