Opinion ID: 2023392
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: meaning of stolen

Text: In its third assignment of error, the State contends that the district court erroneously interpreted the word stolen in §§ 28-621 and 28-622 when it stated: It would not appear that the statements in question come under the umbrella of `lost, stolen, forged, altered, counterfeited, or delivered under a mistake,' considering the fact that the information was obtained through the course of Defendant's employment at First Data Resources, albeit in violation of FDR's policies and without their permission. The strongest argument would be that the `device' was `stolen,' but the information was not actually `stolen' or in any way taken from the cardholders, whereas they still own and possess their own credit cards and the ability to utilize them. They were not deprived of property as the term `stolen' typically connotes. The term steal means [t]o take (personal property) illegally with the intent to keep it unlawfully or [t]o take (something) by larceny, embezzlement, or false pretenses. Black's Law Dictionary 1425 (7th ed.1999). Acting without authorization and with the knowledge that they would be used unlawfully, Rhea physically removed the statements containing the credit account numbers from his employer's premises. As noted, the account numbers reflected on the statements constituted financial transaction devices as defined by § 28-618(7), and on these facts, we have no difficulty in concluding from the record that there was competent evidence upon which a trier of fact could conclude that they were stolen.