Floyd Morris Bridges v. United States

427 F.2d 544, 1970 U.S. App. LEXIS 8929

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: June 3, 1970
• Docket: 24971
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Appellant raises two issues in his appeal from a Dyer Act conviction (18 U.S.C. § 2312): (1) Was the evidence sufficient to support the implied finding of the jury that the man from whom appellant obtained the automobile was the owner of the car? and (2) was the automobile “stolen” within the meaning of section 2312 when appellant obtained it, using a worthless check, under circumstances that should have alerted the dealer to the likelihood that appellant’s check would be bad ?

Our examination of the evidence convinces us that the record amply supports the implied finding of ownership of the stolen car.

Gross carelessness of the dealer in accepting appellant's bad check does not change a theft into a poor business bargain. Appellant’s conduct fell within the purview of section 2312. Cf. United States v. Turley (1957) 352 U.S. 407, 77 S.Ct. 397, 1 L.Ed.2d 430.)

The judgment is affirmed.