Bill > H1206

This bill proposes to create a new crime called "unlawful possession of property" specifically for cases where property belonging to individuals aged sixty or older, or those with a disability as defined by law, is taken without consent and valued over one thousand dollars. The penalties for this offense are significant, including potential imprisonment in state prison for up to five years or in a house of correction for up to two and a half years, along with fines up to twenty-five thousand dollars, or a combination of both. If the property involved is real estate, the penalties are even more severe, with potential imprisonment in state prison for up to ten years and fines up to fifty thousand dollars, and the offender would be required to restore or forfeit the interest in the real estate. The bill also allows courts to order restitution to the victim for the value of the property, regardless of its official valuation. Crucially, if the victim has a caretaker, their consent to transfer property is only considered valid if it's witnessed in writing by the caretaker, and a caretaker cannot witness such a transfer if they stand to benefit from it.