Refuse To Return Leased Vehicle / Property
Legal Definition
A person commits fraudulent refusal to return leased or rented property when they willfully and with intent to defraud fail to return a leased or rented vehicle or other personal property to the lessor within 72 hours after the lease or rental agreement has expired and the lessor has made written demand for return. When the property is valued over $500 but not more than $2,500, the offense is a fourth degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.
Possible Punishment
Fraudulent refusal to return a leased or rented vehicle or other personal property is a fourth degree felony when the property is valued over $500 but not more than $2,500, punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000; the degree rises or falls with the value involved.
Local Context
The classification of this offense depends on the value of the unreturned property. The statute creates a presumption of intent to defraud if the lessee fails to return the property within 72 hours of written demand after expiration of the agreement. Lower-value property may result in misdemeanor charges, while higher-value property escalates to higher-degree felonies.
Property-Crime Cases in Doña Ana County
Property charges in New Mexico scale with dollar value and circumstances. The same shoplifting conduct can be a petty misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of what was taken, and burglary escalates sharply when the structure is a home or someone is inside. That is why our charge database lists several versions of larceny and burglary with different classifications.
Property cases also drive a large share of repeat bookings: failure to appear on an older larceny case frequently brings someone back into the detention center on a bench warrant alongside any new charge.
Related Guides
Misdemeanor vs. Felony in New Mexico: Sentences, Courts, and Consequences
How New Mexico separates petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and felony degrees: sentence ranges, jail vs. prison, habitual enhancements, and collateral costs.
Bench Warrants and Failure to Appear in New Mexico: How a Missed Court Date Becomes a Booking
What a bench warrant is, how it differs from an arrest warrant, why FTA bookings fill the Doña Ana County jail log, and how to clear a warrant before arrest.
Recent Arrests for This Charge (1)
Information provided for general reference. Statutory text is summarized and may not reflect the most recent amendments. All persons listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.