People v. Washington

The People proved beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant knowingly possessed 32 pairs of jeans removed from complainant’s warehouse in Freeport, Long Island. Defendant contends, however, that there was insufficient proof to establish that he was in possession of stolen property having a value in excess of $250, a necessary prerequisite for conviction of criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree (Penal Law § 165.45 [1]). The People established that the jeans in question were purchased for $384 shortly before their theft.

Although the jeans were purchased as samples for…