Hardy testified that she did not know defendant and had never given him permission to use her Mazda. Defendant was convicted of possession of stolen goods, a Class H felony, in violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. Defendant was also found to be an habitual felon at the time he possessed the stolen Mazda. N.C. Gen. Stat. He was sentenced as a Class C, Level V felon.
Defendant raises two issues on appeal.
First, he argues that the trial court should have dismissed his case because there was insufficient evidence that he knew or had reasonable grounds to believe that the car in which he was found had been stolen. N.C. Gen. Stat. Defendant was found sleeping in a stolen car with a key in the ignition. The car was strewn with items not belonging to the car's owner. When questioned by the police, defendant lied about his name and falsely stated that the car belonged to a friend of his.