Wright v. State

I would reverse this case. I do not believe there was sufficient evidence for the jury, without resorting to speculation and conjecture, to conclude that a boat motor purchased new for $3,100 would have a fair market value of $2,500 nearly a year later, regardless of its condition.

While it is true that an owner can testify to the value of his stolen property, here the owner testified not to the value of the motor, only to what he had paid for it. The difference between the retail price paid and the threshold amount to be proven as an element of the offense is too close in this case, and the…