Church Property

State v. Siegel, 778 So.2d 426 (Fla. App. 2001)

Key point. Former church employees who refuse to return church-owned property that had been in their lawful possession may be guilty of the crime of embezzlement.

A Florida court ruled that a student who refused to return a school-owned laptop computer could be charged with theft. This case is directly relevant to churches that provide computers to staff members. A university student was allowed to use a laptop computer owned by the university. The student was expelled by the university for submitting fraudulent expenses for reimbursement as a member of a student organization. After his expulsion, university officials demanded that the student return the laptop computer. He refused to do so and was later charged with theft. The indictment charged that while in lawful possession of the computer the student formed the intent to appropriate the ...