Alvarado

Respondents Humberto and Michael Alvarado were charged in Orange County Superior Court with one count of receiving stolen property. The trial court dismissed the charge for improper venue and ordered that it be refiled in Los Angeles County. However, because the property was stolen in Orange County, venue lies in Orange County. We therefore reverse the order to dismiss.

* * *

In February 2005, someone broke into a business in Irvine and made off with 20 TiVo recording units. A few weeks later, respondents posted some of the units for sale on the Internet. In so doing, they gave out their home address in Los Angeles, and it wasn’t long before the police showed up at their door with a search warrant. Respondents told investigators they bought the units from a guy on their street for less than half their retail value and then turned around and sold them on eBay. No TiVo units were found at respondents’ residence, but the police did find two ounces of cocaine and about $1,600.

In a two-count complaint, respondents were charged with receiving stolen property and possessing cocaine for sale. However, prior to the preliminary hearing, the prosecution dismissed the drug charge…