Conversion of rented or leased personal property; penalty; defenses to civil action.
1. Any person who in renting or leasing any personal property obtains or retains possession of such personal property by means of any false or fraudulent representation, fraudulent concealment, false pretense or personation, trick, artifice or device, including, but not limited to, a false representation as to his name, residence, employment or operator’s license, is guilty of larceny and shall be punished as provided in NRS 205.2175 to 205.2707, inclusive. It is a complete defense to any civil action arising out of or involving the arrest or detention of any person renting or leasing personal property that any representation made by him in obtaining or retaining possession of the personal property is contrary to the fact.
2. Any person who, after renting or leasing any personal property under an agreement in writing which provides for the return of the personal property to a particular place at a particular time fails to return the personal property to such place within the time specified, and who, with the intent to defraud the lessor or to retain possession of such property without the lessor’s permission, thereafter fails to return such property to any place of business of the lessor within 72 hours after a written demand for the return of such property is made upon him by registered mail addressed to his address as shown in the written agreement, or in the absence of such address, to his last known place of residence, is guilty of larceny and shall be punished as provided in NRS 205.2175 to 205.2707, inclusive. The failure to return the personal property to the place specified in the agreement is prima facie evidence of an intent to defraud the lessor or to retain possession of such property without the lessor’s permission. It is a complete defense to any civil action arising out of or involving the arrest or detention of any person upon whom such demand was made that he failed to return the personal property to any place of business of the lessor within 20 days after such demand.
Last modified: February 25, 2006