United States v. Charles H. Sokolow

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction on a jury verdict finding So-kolow guilty of the unlawful receipt and possession of stolen property in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 659. We reverse.

A police officer, acting upon reliable information that cigarettes had been stolen, followed a suspect’s automobile which eventually backed up to Sokolow’s garage. While arresting the suspect, the officer saw a number of air conditioning units stacked in the garage. The officer questioned Sokolow concerning the ownership of the equipment. In the course of this investigation, the officer entered the…