Mobile Mechanic Legal Steps

Summary

If accused of stealing an iPhone given as payment, gather any written agreements or messages about the exchange and witnesses who can confirm the arrangement. If formally accused, consider hiring a lawyer. The decision to arrest or file charges depends on the prosecutor and available evidence.

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I live in Missouri and I am a mobile mechanic. I had what I thought was a friend come by my house to ask me to look at his brakes. I fixed his issue and when it came time for him to pay me he told me he was broke at the moment but he had an old iPhone I could have so I agreed. Later I took the iPhone to an eco atm to sell it, and afterwards the original owner started accusing me of stealing it. What steps do I need to take to prove I didn’t steal the phone and this person had actually given it to me as payment
Hello ****, here are some steps you can take:
- Obtain any written agreement or messages about the exchange.
- Gather witnesses who know about the agreement.
- If accused formally, consider hiring a lawyer.
Remember, this is general advice and may not fully apply to your situation.
Can I be arrested for this
Hello ****, it's not possible to definitively state whether you'll be arrested or not as it depends on many factors. However, in situations like these, it's typically the prosecutor who decides if charges will be filed based on available evidence.