§220.1.  Leased movables; obtaining by false representation; failure to return or surrender; penalties; restitution

A.  No person leasing a movable shall obtain or retain possession of the movable by:

(1)  Making a false statement or false representation of a material fact, where such false statement or false representation is made with the intent to obtain or retain possession of the movable; or

(2)  Intentionally failing to return or surrender the movable when obligated under the terms of the lease, or after the expiration or cancellation of the lease.  The lessee's failure to return or surrender the movable within fifteen calendar days or the number of days for which the movable was leased, whichever is less, after the date written notice requesting return or surrender of the movable was delivered or tendered to the lessee's last known address shall be presumptive evidence that the failure to return or surrender the movable was intentional.  In order for the presumption to arise, the written notice must be sent by the lessor or the district attorney by means of registered or certified mail.

B.(1)  Whoever violates the provisions of this Section when the value of the leased movable is less than one thousand dollars shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

(2)  Whoever violates the provisions of this Section when the value of the leased movable is one thousand dollars or more shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both.

C.  When a defendant is convicted of violating Paragraph (A)(2) and the notice requirements of Paragraph (A)(2) are complied with, a court shall order, in addition to or in lieu of the penalty in Subsection B, upon proof established by a preponderance of the evidence, that defendant pay restitution to the victim for all acknowledged appropriate fees assessed for intentional failure to return or surrender the leased movable after the agreed rental period or lease term or in the amount of lost profit resulting from the defendant's failure to return or surrender the movable as stated under the terms of the lease, or after the expiration or cancellation of the lease.  The court may permit the prosecuting attorney to present evidence of the amount of the victim's lost profits either at the trial of the matter or at the sentencing of the defendant.

D.  The offender's failure to return or surrender a video cassette film or tape that has been rented from a facility which rents video cassette films or tapes within thirty calendar days after notice to make such return or surrender has been sent by certified mail to the offender's last known address shall be presumptive evidence of his intent to defraud and the lessor may report to any law enforcement agency that the rented video cassette film or tape has been stolen.

Acts 1984, No. 812, §1; Acts 1987, No. 771, §1; Acts 1992, No. 981, §1; Acts 1997, No. 790, §1; Acts 2006, No. 130, §1, eff. June 2, 2006.