Pawnshop transactions are built on trust. An Oklahoma false declaration of ownership in pawn charge is a potentially serious criminal offense in Muskogee.
Oklahoma Pawnshops Require a Declaration of Ownership
In Oklahoma, every pawnshop dealer is required by law to obtain a written declaration of ownership from any seller or pledger (person who pawns an item) who comes into the pawnshop to either sell or pawn an item.
On the declaration the seller/pledger is required to state how long he or she has owned the property described in the transaction and to give identifying information. This declaration then becomes part of the bill of sale or pawn ticket. Okla. Stat. tit. 59 § 1515
The purpose of the requirement to help prevent the pawning or sale of stolen goods. A person who gives false information on the declaration can be found in violation of the law. This can come about in a number of ways.
What is an Oklahoma False Declaration of Ownership in Pawn?
A seller or pledger of any item to a pawnbroker my either use false or altered identification. The seller or pledger could also give false information in the declaration regarding how long they have owned the item in question and how it came to be in his or her possession.
All of these misrepresentations are in violation of Oklahoma false declaration of ownership in pawn laws. A violation of this statute can lead to a felony conviction. This punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for up to five years or in the county jail for up to one year, at the court’s discretion. A fine of up to $500 may be assessed in addition to or in lieu of incarceration. Okla. Stat. tit. 59 § 1512
While the statute is intended to prevent the sale of stolen goods, sometimes the crime can happen by mistake. You buy an item on eBay. You think the sale is on the up and up. But unknown to you, someone had previously stolen the item and then sold it to you.
You need some cash and take it to your local pawnshop. You state that you have had it for a couple of months. The pawnshop owner buys it from you and later it is discovered that the item was stolen. The police charge you with making an Oklahoma false declaration of ownership in pawn.
Using False Identification in Pawnshop Transactions
In addition, in Oklahoma, it is also felony for a person to use or present false identification for the purpose of committing or aiding in the commission of a felony in any sort of commercial or financial transaction. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1550.41
So, if you present false identification to a pawnbroker in connection with your sale or pawning of an item that does not in fact belong to you, you could be charged with two felonies.
This felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for up to seven years, or both.
Low-cost Consultation: Muskogee Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you are facing an Oklahoma false declaration of ownership in pawn charge, contact an experienced Muskogee criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
Call Wirth Law Office – Muskogee today at 918-913-0725, or toll-free at 1-888-447-7262 [Wirth Law].
