Riceman v. State

Deen, Presiding Judge.

The appellant was found guilty of theft by deception in connection with transactions involving diamonds and other gemstones, and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Appellant, a largely self-taught dealer in precious and semi-precious stones and objets d’art, became acquainted with the prosecuting witness, a Mr. Scheer, who partially as a hobby, collected such items and occasionally traded in them. After Scheer had made several purchases from the appellant, there evolved an informal arrangement whereby Scheer would advance certain sums to appellant, who was to…