A 54-year old Miami man was arrested this week and charged with dealing in stolen property. He is accused of selling stolen railroad parts. He is being held on $38,000 bond for 5 counts of the second-degree felony.
The accused is alleged to have would recruited people to steal precious metals that held down the tracks before dealing the parts to buyers. He also allegedly sold sewer covers.
Dealing in stolen property requires the state to prove that the accused conducted a transaction, the subject of which was the property of another. However, the law also requires the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused knew or should have known that the property was stolen.
Eric Matheny is a criminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward.