Opinion ID: 1773733
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Additional Circumstances Showing Scienter

Text: Even had this Court believed that the state made a showing sufficient to show unexplained possession of recently stolen property, such evidence does not in itself permit an inference of retention of stolen property, for the crime also requires a showing of scienter that is, that defendant possessed property knowing or believing it to be stolen. While evidence of possession of recently stolen property is relevant to the scienter requirement, it is not in itself sufficient to meet it. It must be combined with other evidence that, together with the evidence of possession, will permit the jury to infer that defendant knowingly possessed the stolen goods. Here, the state argues it offered such evidence by showing that Mr. Langdon did not have a permit for the gun. It cites no case in which lack of a permit has been found to support an inference of knowledge or belief that property is stolen, however, and we have found none. The type of circumstantial evidence that prior cases have found sufficient includes such things as altering the appearance of the goods, hiding serial numbers, giving false, evasive or contradictory statements, suspicious and deceptive behavior, sale for an inadequate price, and so forth. Possession of a gun without having applied locally for a permit is not on par with the above circumstances permitting an inference of knowing possession of stolen property. Even if it is some evidence, it is not enough, alone or combined with unexplained possession of recently stolen property, to make a submissible case. Here, the evidence is particularly weak, for, as the state concedes, defendant had not applied for a permit to acquire any of his handguns, including those the state does not dispute were lawfully acquired, and he had no permit for the gun found hidden in his garage. He is not charged with stealing any of these guns. Even the victim had not obtained permits for his other two guns that were stolen. The state does not suggest either defendant's or the victim's lack of a permit for their other guns allows an inference that those guns were stolen or that he knowingly possessed stolen property as to them. Lack of a local permit to acquire a gun found in someone's possession simply cannot be held to be, in itself, sufficient other circumstantial evidence supporting the inference that he knew or believed it to be stolen, in the absence of some other basis for inferring, on the particular facts, that defendant had knowledge or belief of its status as stolen and intended to deprive its owners of it.