"The requisite scienter for [the] crime [of receiving stolen property] may be inferred from possession of recently stolen goods. Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781 (1974). While the possession of recently stolen property does not raise a presumption as a matter of law as to the possessor's guilt, it does raise a presumption as a matter of fact to be passed upon by the jury.
Vines v. State, 57 Ala. App. 117, 326 So.2d 307 (1975). . . . The requisite scienter for this crime may be inferred from possession of recently stolen goods. Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781 (1974). While the possession of recently stolen property does not raise a presumption as a matter of law as to the possessor's guilt, it does raise a presumption as a matter of fact to be passed upon by the jury.
"(P)ossession of recently stolen property gives rise to a permissible inference of knowledge on the part of the possessor that the property had been stolen, unless the possession thereof is accounted for in a reasonable and satisfactory manner consistent with the circumstances of the possession. Stanley v. State, 46 Ala. App. 542, 245 So.2d 827, cert. denied, 286 Ala. 738, 245 So.2d 828 (1970); Character v. State, 51 Ala. App. 589, 287 So.2d 916, cert. denied, 291 Ala. 775, 287 So.2d 919 (1973); Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781 (1974). The reasonableness of the explanation given by one in possession of recently stolen property is to be determined from all the circumstances, and, if reasonable people can come to a different conclusion on the subject, the question of whether the explanation is reasonable is one to be determined by the jury.
The answer to appellant's contention is to be found in the established principle that possession of recently stolen property gives rise to a permissible inference of knowledge on the part of the possessor that the property had been stolen, unless the possession thereof is accounted for in a reasonable and satisfactory manner consistent with the circumstances of the possession. Stanley v. State, 286 Ala. 738, 245 So.2d 827 (1970); Character v. State, 51 Ala. App. 589, 287 So.2d 916, cert. denied, 291 Ala. 775, 287 So.2d 919 (1973); Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781 (1974). The reasonableness of the explanation given by one in possession of recently stolen property is to be determined from all of the circumstances, and, if reasonable people can come to a different conclusion on the subject, the question of whether the explanation is reasonable is one to be determined by the jury.
The requisite scienter for the crime of receiving stolen property may be inferred from circumstances of the possession by the accused of the property soon after it has been stolen. Stanley v. State, 46 Ala. App. 542, 245 So.2d 827, cert. denied, 286 Ala. 738, 245 So.2d 828 (1970); Character v. State, 51 Ala. App. 589, 287 So.2d 916, cert. denied, 291 Ala. 775, 287 So.2d 919 (1973); Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781 (1974). As to the question whether there was substantial evidence to corroborate the testimony of David Gabriel, we find ample corroboration in the testimony of others; that within a few hours after seizure of the truck transporting some of the stolen tires, less than four days after they were stolen, one of the tires that had been stolen was found along the driveway of defendant's residence, about halfway between the public road and the building; tire strappings were found on a jeep top at the well house at defendant's residence; and about one hundred fifty or one hundred sixty of the stolen tires were about one hundred yards from defendant's home, across the public road from defendant's house.
The requisite scienter for this crime may be inferred from possession of recently stolen goods. Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781 (1974). While the possession of recently stolen property does not raise a presumption as a matter of law as to the possessor's guilt, it does raise a presumption as a matter of fact to be passed upon by the jury.
From the possession of recently stolen property, the jury can infer the criminal state of mind requisite to the offense of buying, receiving, or aiding in concealing stolen property, in the absence of a reasonably satisfactory explanation of the possession inconsistent with the inference. Hunt v. State, Ala.Cr.App., 331 So.2d 834 (1976); Vines v. State, 57 Ala. App. 117, 326 So.2d 307 (1976); Character v. State, 51 Ala. App. 589, 287 So.2d 916, cert. denied 291 Ala. 775, 287 So.2d 919 (1973); Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781 (1974). Defendant's only explanation of his continuous possession of an automobile for about a month after it had been unquestionably stolen was to the effect that it had been sold to him by the purported owner as evidenced by a bill of sale that was unquestionably a forgery.
Furthermore, the requisite scienter for the offense of buying, receiving, concealing, or aiding in concealing stolen property may be inferred from recent possession of the stolen goods. Rhone v. State, 53 Ala. App. 338, 299 So.2d 781. The appellant offered no evidence to rebut this inference. We have carefully examined the record as is required by law and find no error therein.