{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-514.020","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 514.020","heading":"General provisions.","body":"(1) It is a defense to prosecution for theft that the actor:\n(a) Was unaware that the property or service was that of another; or\n(b) Acted under a claim of right to the property or service involved or a claim that\nhe or she had a right to acquire or dispose of it as he or she did; or\n(c) Took property exposed for sale, intending to purchase and pay for it promptly,\nor reasonably believing that the owner, if present, would have consented.\n(2) It is no defense that theft was from the actor's spouse, except t hat misappropriation\nof household and personal effects or other property normally accessible to both\nspouses is theft only if it involves the property of the other spouse and only if it\noccurs after the parties have ceased living together.\n(3) It shall be  prima facie evidence of intent to commit theft by deception when one\nwho has leased or rented the personal property of another fails to return the personal\nproperty to its owner within four (4) days after the lease or rental agreement has\nexpired. It shall also be prima facie evidence of intent to commit theft by deception\nwhen one presents to the owner identification which is false, fictitious or not current\nas to name, address, place of employment or other items of identification for the\npurpose of obtai ning the lease or rental agreement. Nothing herein contained shall\nrelieve the owner from making demand for return of property so leased or rented.\nNotice addressed and mailed to the lessee or renter at the address given at the time\nof the making of the lease or rental agreement shall constitute proper demand.","path":["KRS Chapter 514"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55476","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:02Z","sha256":"334d69e47eff764e70ee0a20f29c4e1a10cb9efa6dae9f61cec0ed716cba4e7b","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-514.010","next":"us-ky/krs-514.030"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}