A man steals $2000 in jewelry. His girlfriend hides the jewelry and claims she never received them. Jewelry is found hidden in her apartment. What crime has she committed?

• A. Receiving Stolen Property
• B. Possession of Stolen Property
• C. Concealing Stolen Property
• D. Accessory After The Fact

Answer: (D)

After the crime is done, someone who helps the offender avoid punishment by aiding, concealing, or shielding them is charged as an accessory after the fact. Here, hiding the stolen jewelry is more than just possessing stolen property—it’s an action taken to help the thief escape detection and punishment. By concealing the jewelry, the girlfriend actively assisted the man after the theft, which fits the definition of an accessory after the fact. The fact that the jewelry was found in her apartment supports that she had control of the stolen property and chose to hide it to prevent discovery, reinforcing the accessory-after-the-fact role. This differs from simply possessing or receiving stolen property, which involve obtaining or holding stolen items rather than taking steps to aid the offender after the crime.