Arizona Laws 13-3941. Disposition and return of stolen or embezzled property
A. When property alleged to have been stolen or embezzled comes into the custody of a peace officer or of a magistrate, he shall hold it subject to the order of the magistrate before whom the complaint is laid or who examines the charge against the person accused of stealing or embezzling such property.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 13-3941
- Action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Magistrate: means an officer having power to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person charged with a public offense and includes the chief justice and justices of the supreme court, judges of the superior court, judges of the court of appeals, justices of the peace and judges of a municipal court. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Peace officer: means any person vested by law with a duty to maintain public order and make arrests and includes a constable. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Person: means a human being and, as the context requires, an enterprise, a public or private corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a firm, a society, a government, a governmental authority or an individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Possession: means a voluntary act if the defendant knowingly exercised dominion or control over property. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Property: means anything of value, tangible or intangible. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
B. The person to whom the property is delivered shall enter in a suitable book a description of every article of property alleged to be stolen or embezzled and brought into the office, or taken from the person of a prisoner, and shall attach a number to each article and make a corresponding entry thereof.
C. The magistrate shall, upon satisfactory proof of the ownership, order the property to be delivered to the owner. The order entitles the owner to demand and receive the property unless the property, or any part thereof, is required as evidence in any criminal action. If it is so required, it shall remain in possession of the officer or magistrate until the termination of the action.
D. If the property has not been delivered to the owner, the court before which a trial is had for the theft or embezzlement of the property may, on proof of title of the owner, order it restored to him.
E. No charge or fee may be imposed upon the owner of property ordered to be returned to him pursuant to this section.