State v. Beale case brief

State v. Beale case brief summary
299 A.2d 921 (1973)

CASE SYNOPSIS

Defendant appealed from his conviction of knowingly concealing stolen property in violation ofMe. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 3551 after a jury verdict in a Maine trial court.

CASE FACTS
Defendant was convicted of knowingly concealing stolen property in violation of ME. REV. STAT. ANN. title 17,§ 3551 after goods identified as stolen were discovered in defendant's antique shop.

DISCUSSION

• On appeal, defendant argued that the trial court erred by refusing to give his requested jury instruction regarding the extent of his knowledge required under the statute. 
• The appellate court reversed defendant's conviction and remanded for a new trial. 
• The court held that the statute required that the jury had to be satisfied as to defendant's subjective knowledge of the stolen goods. 
• The prosecution was required to prove that defendant himself actually had knowledge that the involved goods were stolen and that mere proof that a reasonable person under similar circumstances would have known that the goods was stolen was not enough.

CONCLUSION
Appellate court reversed defendant's convicted and remanded for a new trial, holding that in order for defendant to be convicted of knowingly concealing stolen property, the prosecution was required to prove that defendant knew that the goods were stolen rather than simply that a reasonable person would have so known.

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