Reference no: EM131706963

Question: The Indianapolis city government pressed theft charges against a former employee, Michael McGraw, when his supervisor discovered that he had used the computer to keep customer lists and payment records for his private business-the sale to co-workers and others of Nature-Slim, a liquid diet supplement for people who want to lose weight. The city decided to press charges for theft after it was unsuccessful in blocking McGraw's application for unemployment compensation benefits. The discharge of McGraw was not related to the alleged misuse of the computer. A jury convicted McGraw on two counts of theft. The state criminal code defines a thief in the following terms: "A person who knowingly or intentionally exerts unauthorized control over property of another person with intent to deprive the other of any part of its value, or use, commits theft, a class D felony." Should McGraw's conviction be permitted to stand? Suppose the conviction is overturned. Should he be reinstated? See Indiana v. McGraw [480 N.E.2d 552 (Ind. 1985)].