Ok, this is my situation. I came into recieving a motorcycle, a 15 year old non running bike, by someone who lived in the same apartments as I live in. The man was moving out the same weekend and was looking to sell the bike. It was in non running mechanical condition. He had no way of transport and I offered to allow him to use my garage until he could arrange transport for it to his new home. We exchanged numbers. He seemed like a great guy, had his son with him, nothing fishy about the situation at all. A week later he contacts me and said he was having trouble getting free time at a decent hour to obtain a truck to transport it and he would give me some money for being so generous to store it for him while he arranged this. I said no problem, it didnt run, I didnt care. Well a month goes by and no contact from him, then he calls out of the blue and wants to arrange pickup. Once again, not a problem for me. That was the last i heard from him, 3 months ago. After sitting in my garage not running for months, I decide to get some info on it. His number was coming back disconnected so I contacted the DMV about the vehicle history. They could not retrieve any information on it. It had a VIN stamped in the proper location, didnt appear to me, the untrained eye, to be altered in any way. I was told I could be issued a title following a sureity bond and an inspection by the state.
Well on sunday the bike was brought to my work where it was parked outside. There was supposed to be a car and bike show during the day. A guy apparently see's the bike outside and claims that it is his bike stolen from him 18 months ago. The only identifying marks are the color, which I repaired the faring damage and primered black myself 3 weeks prior, and the polished frame, which is not uncommon among kawasaki motorcycles, and the exhaust, a highly popular brand for all kawasaki bikes.
The police are notified and an officer comes to my job and questions me. The VIN comes back invalid in her system, and she jumps on the stolen bandwagon. Impounds the bike and tells me I am being charged with "possesion of a stolen vehicle".
Well being that the VIN did not turn up stolen in the system, nor did it match the VIN from the other mans police report, I remain uncharged. There are no other identifying numbers on the bike :?:
I am seeking advice as to whether I should seek council or not in the matter. What can they charge me with for being in possesion of a vehicle with an altered VIN number? And what is the likelyhood of me being able to retrieve the bike?

