"Guilty knowledge is the gist of the offense of receiving stolen property." Barton, 303 So.3d at 701 (citing Tubwell v. State, 580 So.2d 1264, 1266 (Miss. 1991)).
See Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-70(1) (Rev. 2014). Guilty knowledge is the gist of the offense of receiving stolen property. Tubwell v. State , 580 So. 2d 1264, 1266 (Miss. 1991) ; Ellett v. State , 364 So. 2d 669, 670 (Miss. 1978).
We remain mindful that in prosecutions for receiving stolen property, guilty knowledge is the gist of the offense and must be proved. Tubwell v. State, 580 So.2d 1264, 1266 (Miss. 1991); Thompson at 954; Ellett v.State, 364 So.2d 669, 670 (Miss. 1978); Crowell v. State, 195 Miss. 427, 15 So.2d 508 (1943).
¶22. Our inquiry is whether the State proved Ratcliff knowingly possessed a stolen firearm. "Guilty knowledge is the gist of the offense of receiving stolen property." Barton v. State, 303 So.3d 698, 701 (¶14) (Miss. 2020) (citing Tubwell v. State, 580 So.2d 1264, 1266 (Miss. 1991)). "For the state to prove guilty knowledge, it must prove that the defendant received the property under circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that it was stolen."
As Kelly argues, evidence of unexplained possession of stolen property, alone, is insufficient to satisfy the guilty-knowledge requirement of the crime of receiving stolen property. McClain, 625 So.2d at 779 (citing Tubwell v. State, 580 So.2d 1264, 1266 (Miss.1991)). However, when coupled with attempts at concealment, “such evidence may be sufficient to warrant a conviction....” Washington v. State, 726 So.2d 209, 213 (¶ 10) (Miss.Ct.App.1998) (quoting McClain, 625 So.2d at 779).
As Kelly argues, evidence of unexplained possession of stolen property, alone, is insufficient to satisfy the guilty-knowledge requirement of the crime of receiving stolen property. McClain, 625 So. 2d at 779 (citing Tubwell v. State, 580 So. 2d 1264, 1266 (Miss. 1991)). However, when coupled with attempts at concealment, "such evidence may be sufficient to warrant a conviction . . . ."