Four people were recently arrested after law enforcement raided a warehouse and found nearly $250,000 worth of stolen trademarked plastics products, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Theft crimes in Los Angeles can vary widely, depending on the allegations, the amount of the property taken, whether any other people are involved and whether guns are alleged to be involved. California law lays out an extensive list of crimes and potential penalties for theft, which can range from probation to decades in prison.
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard understands that being charged with a theft crime in Los Angeles can be a life-changing situation. For many people, being thrust into the criminal justice system can be intimidating and filled with many unknowns.
For one, a suspect should be represented at all times. This starts the moment the police want to question a person. The defendant shouldn't make a statement at all before consulting with an experienced attorney, like Vincent Howard. This applies to any crime, from a common drug charge to a murder case.
In this case, officials with a law enforcement task force that deals with plastic theft were doing a compliance check at R and P Industries and found mounds of stolen items, police officials reported. They found stacks of what they are saying were stolen plastics that were trademarked, including crates, pallets, bread baskets and collapsible totes.
Police reported they also found 60 bags of plastic grind -- each weighing 2,000 pounds -- on the site, as well as tools used to grind plastic. The 50-year-old business owner and three employees -- ages 23, 26 and 36 -- were arrested. All the men are from Los Angeles.
Authorities have charged them with illegal possession of trademarked property and possession of stolen property. Each is being held on $20,000 bail. The newspaper reports that the plastic grinding industry is big in Los Angeles.
People commonly steal plastics from manufacturers, including stores such as Wal-Mart, and bring them to recycling companies. They then grind the pieces of plastic they purchase from the public into fingernail-sized chips. Those chips are then sold to manufacturers or sent to China, the newspaper reports.
In this case, the definition of possession is going to come into play. What must be proven beyond all reasonable doubt is who actually possessed that stolen material and who had knowledge of it.
Imagine working at your company and having police storm in and arrest you all for "possession" of stolen goods even if you didn't know that what was in your building was stolen. How police prove who had knowledge of the stolen goods and who didn't is often a major task. Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard believe that these people all need strong legal representation in order to ensure the true facts come out.
And in a case like this, police must prove that the property in question was actually stolen. Who's to say the company didn't buy the property it intended to grind down? The news article doesn't have many details, but it's likely this information -- if it exists -- will come out later in the case. In the meantime, these four men must face the difficult task of dealing with major criminal charges hanging over their heads.
If you or a loved one would like to speak to a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles or in any of the surrounding areas, contact HOWARD LAW PC for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-872-5925.
More Blog Entries:
South Carolina v. Odems Proves Circumstantial Evidence in Los Angeles Burglary Cases Not Good Enough: January 7, 2012
Additional Resources:
Authorities seize $250,000 worth of stolen plastics at company, by Angel Jennings and Sam Quinones, Los Angeles Times
