Question

An art restorer, after attending art school for a number of years, secured a job restoring the paintings for an art museum. After several years on the job, the artist discovered that he could imitate the artwork of nearly any artist. He decided that he could make some extra money copying the artwork of up-and-coming artists, while staying away from more well-known artists to reduce his chance of getting caught. An art collector searching for a painting by a new artist saw the restorer at an art fair selling various paintings, one of which appeared to be by the new artist. The restorer was selling the painting for $100. The collector thought that the price was very low and that the painting should probably sell for around $500, but she bought the painting anyway, giving the restorer $100 after the restorer confirmed that the painting was an original from the new artist. After taking it to an art appraiser for insurance purposes, she discovered that the painting was a forgery. However, she also discovered that the painting's frame was worth about $125. With which theft offense may the art restorer be charged

Answer 1

Answer: False pretenses.

Explanation:

The art restorer ma be charged with false pretenses. An individual will be charged with take pretense when the person makes an intentional statement so that he or she can defraud a victim.

In this case, through false pretense, the art restorer defrauded the art collector of $100 since the painting was forgery. The art restorer obtained title to another person's property in this case through false pretense is as to defraud the art collector.