32 year old man appears court stealing laptop

Court Transcript

Case Number: 2023-CR-001234 Defendant: John Doe, 32 years old Charge: Theft of a laptop computer

Prosecutor: Your Honor, the prosecution calls its first witness, Officer Jane Smith.

Officer Smith: I'm a police officer with the local police department. On February 10, 2023, at approximately 2:45 PM, I responded to a call at the local coffee shop, "The Daily Grind." The owner, Mr. Johnson, reported that a customer had stolen a laptop from the store.

Prosecutor: Can you describe what you saw, Officer?

Officer Smith: Yes. When I arrived at the scene, I saw the defendant, John Doe, walking out of the coffee shop with a laptop bag. I approached him and asked if he had purchased the laptop from the store. He denied it, but I noticed that the laptop bag was not zipped up, and the laptop was visible inside.

Prosecutor: Did you search the defendant?

Officer Smith: Yes. I searched the defendant and found the stolen laptop in his bag. The laptop belonged to Mr. Johnson, the owner of the coffee shop.

Prosecutor: Did the defendant make any statements to you?

Officer Smith: Yes. He said that he had found the laptop on the street and was going to return it to the coffee shop. However, when I asked him why he didn't return it immediately, he became evasive and changed his story.

Prosecutor: Your Honor, the prosecution rests its case.

Defense Attorney: Your Honor, the defense would like to call its first witness, John Doe.

John Doe: I'm the defendant, John Doe. I'm 32 years old and a freelance writer. On February 10, 2023, I went to the coffee shop to work on my laptop. I saw a laptop lying on the floor, and I picked it up thinking it was abandoned. I didn't steal it, and I was going to return it to the coffee shop.

Defense Attorney: Did you see anyone else around the laptop when you picked it up?

John Doe: Yes. I saw a few people walking around the coffee shop, but I didn't see anyone else near the laptop.

Defense Attorney: Did you try to return the laptop to the coffee shop?

John Doe: Yes. I went back to the coffee shop and asked the owner if anyone had reported a lost laptop. He said no, and I left the laptop with him.

Defense Attorney: Your Honor, the defense rests its case.

Judge: The court has heard the evidence. The defendant is found guilty of theft of a laptop computer. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

John Doe: (looking down) I'm sorry, Your Honor. I didn't mean to steal the laptop. I just got caught up in the moment.

Judge: (sternly) Sorry is not enough, Mr. Doe. You have committed a crime, and you will face the consequences.