What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
I was shopping at a grocery store in California and attempted to pay for approx. $45.00 dollars in groceries with a $50.00 dollar bill. The checker thought that the bill was fake and gave it to the manager who determined it to be fake . I felt that they might be mistaken and asked if they could use a counterfeit pen to check it . He told me that he had and it was fake. I heard someone say that they were going to make the call to the police. An employee at the service desk loudly asked me for my asked me for my ID and at that point I became aware that I was being accused of committing a crime. I felt humiliated in front of dozens of people became scared and walked out of the store and was later apprehended 2 blocks from the store. When asked if I was in the store, I said I was not and refused to make any more statements. I was arrested and charged with passing a counterfeit note by the Sate of California.
I believe that the bill was given to me by a man (identity unknown) that bought 4 tires & rims from me at a swap meet. I only inspected the money as to it's denomination (1 ten, 2 twenties, and a fifty dollar bill) and had no idea or reason to believe that the fifty was a fake!
Would you find me guilty or not guilty within the language of California Penal Code Section 470 ?
470. (a) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, knowing that
he or she has no authority to do so, signs the name of another
person or of a fictitious person to any of the items listed in
subdivision (d) is guilty of forgery.
(b) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, counterfeits or
forges the seal or handwriting of another is guilty of forgery.
(c) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, alters,
corrupts, or falsifies any record of any will, codicil, conveyance,
or other instrument, the record of which is by law evidence, or any
record of any judgment of a court or the return of any officer to any
process of any court, is guilty of forgery.
(d) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, falsely makes,
alters, forges, or counterfeits, utters, publishes, passes or
attempts or offers to pass, as true and genuine, any of the following
items, knowing the same to be false, altered, forged, or
counterfeited, is guilty of forgery: any check, bond, bank bill, or
note, cashier's check, traveler's check, money order, post note,
draft, any controller's warrant for the payment of money at the
treasury, county order or warrant, or request for the payment of
money, receipt for money or goods, bill of exchange, promissory note,
order, or any assignment of any bond, writing obligatory, or other
contract for money or other property, contract, due bill for payment
of money or property, receipt for money or property, passage ticket,
lottery ticket or share purporting to be issued under the California
State Lottery Act of 1984, trading stamp, power of attorney,
certificate of ownership or other document evidencing ownership of a
vehicle or undocumented vessel, or any certificate of any share,
right, or interest in the stock of any corporation or association, or
the delivery of goods or chattels of any kind, or for the delivery
of any instrument of writing, or acquittance, release or discharge of
any debt, account, suit, action, demand, or any other thing, real or
personal, or any transfer or assurance of money, certificate of
shares of stock, goods, chattels, or other property whatever, or any
letter of attorney, or other power to receive money, or to receive or
transfer certificates of shares of stock or annuities, or to let,
lease, dispose of, alien, or convey any goods, chattels, lands, or
tenements, or other estate, real or personal; or any matter described
in subdivision (b)
I was shopping at a grocery store in California and attempted to pay for approx. $45.00 dollars in groceries with a $50.00 dollar bill. The checker thought that the bill was fake and gave it to the manager who determined it to be fake . I felt that they might be mistaken and asked if they could use a counterfeit pen to check it . He told me that he had and it was fake. I heard someone say that they were going to make the call to the police. An employee at the service desk loudly asked me for my asked me for my ID and at that point I became aware that I was being accused of committing a crime. I felt humiliated in front of dozens of people became scared and walked out of the store and was later apprehended 2 blocks from the store. When asked if I was in the store, I said I was not and refused to make any more statements. I was arrested and charged with passing a counterfeit note by the Sate of California.
I believe that the bill was given to me by a man (identity unknown) that bought 4 tires & rims from me at a swap meet. I only inspected the money as to it's denomination (1 ten, 2 twenties, and a fifty dollar bill) and had no idea or reason to believe that the fifty was a fake!
Would you find me guilty or not guilty within the language of California Penal Code Section 470 ?
470. (a) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, knowing that
he or she has no authority to do so, signs the name of another
person or of a fictitious person to any of the items listed in
subdivision (d) is guilty of forgery.
(b) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, counterfeits or
forges the seal or handwriting of another is guilty of forgery.
(c) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, alters,
corrupts, or falsifies any record of any will, codicil, conveyance,
or other instrument, the record of which is by law evidence, or any
record of any judgment of a court or the return of any officer to any
process of any court, is guilty of forgery.
(d) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, falsely makes,
alters, forges, or counterfeits, utters, publishes, passes or
attempts or offers to pass, as true and genuine, any of the following
items, knowing the same to be false, altered, forged, or
counterfeited, is guilty of forgery: any check, bond, bank bill, or
note, cashier's check, traveler's check, money order, post note,
draft, any controller's warrant for the payment of money at the
treasury, county order or warrant, or request for the payment of
money, receipt for money or goods, bill of exchange, promissory note,
order, or any assignment of any bond, writing obligatory, or other
contract for money or other property, contract, due bill for payment
of money or property, receipt for money or property, passage ticket,
lottery ticket or share purporting to be issued under the California
State Lottery Act of 1984, trading stamp, power of attorney,
certificate of ownership or other document evidencing ownership of a
vehicle or undocumented vessel, or any certificate of any share,
right, or interest in the stock of any corporation or association, or
the delivery of goods or chattels of any kind, or for the delivery
of any instrument of writing, or acquittance, release or discharge of
any debt, account, suit, action, demand, or any other thing, real or
personal, or any transfer or assurance of money, certificate of
shares of stock, goods, chattels, or other property whatever, or any
letter of attorney, or other power to receive money, or to receive or
transfer certificates of shares of stock or annuities, or to let,
lease, dispose of, alien, or convey any goods, chattels, lands, or
tenements, or other estate, real or personal; or any matter described
in subdivision (b)
