1. (1) A person who sells or offers for sale or trades any livestock upon which the person has not the person's recorded mark or brand, or for which the person so offering has neither bill of sale nor power of attorney from the owner of the livestock authorizing the sale, is guilty of theft, unless the person upon trial establishes that the person was at the time the actual owner of the livestock so sold or traded, or offered for sale or trade, or that the person acted at the direction of one proven to be the actual owner of such livestock.
2. (2) In prosecutions for a violation of this section, it shall not be necessary, in order to warrant a conviction for the people, to prove motive, intent, or purpose on the part of the accused, or that the accused knew that the livestock sold or traded, or offered for sale or trade, was so sold, traded, or offered in violation of this section, but the fact of such selling, trading, or offering for sale or trade contrary to the provisions of this section, when proved, shall be sufficient to authorize a conviction, unless the accused shall by testimony explain the case made by the people in a manner consistent with good faith and an innocent purpose.

Source: G.L. § 2600. G.S. § 3192. R.S. 08: § 6450. C.L. § 3274. CSA: C. 160, § 204. CRS 53: § 8-10-4. C.R.S. 1963: § 8-10-4. L. 67: pp. 255, 574, §§ 3, 3. L. 2025: (1) amended, (HB 25-1084), ch. 24, p. 138, § 153, effective August 6.

Cross references: For theft generally, see § 18-4-401; for theft of livestock, see § 35-43-128.