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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    2

    Default Charged with receiving stolen goods

    I purchased a hunting rifle from a friend almost 2 years ago who assured me the gun was clean. At the time I did have a license to carry, well come to find out the gun was stolen and I was charged with receiving stolen goods over $250. My suggested I get an affidavit from my “so called” friend saying he sold it to me at naming where he got it from. My friend insists he did not know it was stolen but is hesitant to sign the affidavit for fears he may incriminate himself. What is the statue of limitations in this case as it relates to the guy who sold it to me ? This is in Massachusetts.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Charged with receiving stolen goods

    For most crimes the statute of limitations in Massachusetts is six years.

    Talk to your lawyer about (a) possibly tape recording a discussion with your friend where he describes having sold you the firearm and (b) the possibility of issuing a subpoena for your friend to testify in court.

    Did you pay something reasonably close to market value for the rifle? Where did your friend supposedly get the rifle from?

    I'm curious - how did you get caught after having the firearm for two years?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Charged with receiving stolen goods

    To make a long story short I had an accidental discharge of my handgun which did not have a safety on it. There was a disturbance a few houses down between to groups of people who were fighting, I retrieved it after hearing sounds that sounded like gun shots it turned out to be glass breaking from an aluminum bat against an aluminum door. After the discharge the cops came to my house after one of the two groups were caught and blamed the damage to the house on me and my firearm. Those charges were later dropped as the evidence clearly showed the damage was from a bat and not a gun. However upon entering my house they located the rifle and later charged me with receiving stolen goods.

    This case will not make it to trial, but I thought about the taped conversations as well. In hindsight it was a stupid purchase because I didn’t get a receipt. I am a musician as well and I have bought and sold musical equipment in the past and have never given a receipt or received one, I know now it is a hell of a practice and a lesson I will never forget.

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