2025 Georgia Codes – Page 77

(a) A person commits the offense of theft by deception when he obtains property by any deceitful means or
artful practice with the intention of depriving the owner of the property.
(b) A person deceives if he intentionally:
(1) Creates or confirms another’s impression of an existing fact or past event which is false and which the
accused knows or believes to be false;
(2) Fails to correct a false impression of an existing fact or past event which he has previously created or
confirmed;
(3) Prevents another from acquiring information pertinent to the disposition of the property involved;
(4) Sells or otherwise transfers or encumbers property intentionally failing to disclose a substantial and
valid known lien, adverse claim, or other legal impediment to the enjoyment of the property, whether such
impediment is or is not a matter of official record; or
(5) Promises performance of services which he does not intend to perform or knows will not be performed.
Evidence of failure to perform standing alone shall not be sufficient to authorize a conviction under this
subsection.
(c) “Deceitful means” and “artful practice” do not, however, include falsity as to matters having no pecuniary
significance, or exaggeration by statements unlikely to deceive ordinary persons in the group addressed.

[Note: Due to prior caselaw, please consult with your local prosecuting authority regarding the enforceability
of this section]
(a) A person commits the offense of theft by conversion when, having lawfully obtained funds or other
property of another including, but not limited to, leased or rented personal property, under an agreement or
other known legal obligation to make a specified application of such funds or a specified disposition of such
property, he knowingly converts the funds or property to his own use in violation of the agreement or legal
obligation. This Code section applies whether the application or disposition is to be made from the funds or
property of another or from the accused’s own funds or property in equivalent amount when the agreement
contemplates that the accused may deal with the funds or property of another as his own.
(b) When, under subsection (a) of this Code section, an officer or employee of a government or of a financial
institution fails to pay on an account, upon lawful demand, from the funds or property of another held by
him, he is presumed to have intended to convert the funds or property to his own use.
(c)(1) As used in this subsection, the term “personal property” means personal property having a replacement
cost value greater than $100.00, excluding any late fees and penalties, and includes heavy equipment as
defined in paragraph (2) of Code Section 10-1-731 and tractors and farm equipment primarily designed for
use in agriculture.
(2) Any person having any personal property in such person’s possession or under such person’s control by
virtue of a lease or rental agreement who fails to return the personal property within five days, Saturdays,
Sundays, and holidays excluded, after a letter demanding return of the personal property has been mailed to
such person by certified or registered mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested, at such
person’s last known address by the owner of the personal property or by the owner’s agent shall be pre-
sumed to have knowingly converted such personal property to such person’s own use in violation of such
lease or agreement.
(3) In the event that any personal property is not returned as provided for in the lease or rental agreement
and the court orders the lessor or renter to pay replacement costs, replacement costs shall include but not be
limited to:
(A) The market value of the personal property. The market value shall be established by the owner of the
property by providing from a supplier of such or reasonably similar personal property a current quotation
of the value of the personal property which is of like quality, make, and model of the personal property
being replaced. The value to be awarded shall be the higher of:
(i) The value on the date when the conversion occurred; or
(ii) The value on the date of the trial;
(B) All rental charges from the date the rental agreement was executed until the date of the trial or the date
that the property was recovered, if recovered; and
(C) Interest on the unpaid balance each month at the current legal rate from the date the court orders the les-
sor or renter to pay replacement costs until the date the judgment is satisfied in full.
(4) If as a part of the order of the court the lessor or renter is placed on probation, supervision of said proba-
tion shall not be terminated until all replacement costs, fees, charges, penalties, interest, and other charges
are paid in full. All payments relative to this Code section shall be made to the appropriate court of jurisdic-
tion and the court shall make distribution to the owner within 30 days of receipt thereof.
(5) In the event that the owner incurs any expenses in the process of locating a lessor or renter who did not
return any personal property according to the lease or rental agreement, the court shall provide that the lessor
or renter reimburse the owner for those expenses which may include, but not be limited to, credit reports,
private detective fees, investigation fees, fees charged by a law enforcement agency for such services as
police reports, background checks, fees involved with swearing out a warrant for incarceration, and any
other bona fide expenses.