[ossiblue]

Whose side are you on? Seriously?!

There is no more clear cut situation of theft. Period. Any statements about the how true owner was going to let it rot, what a shame, it deserved to be "saved", etc. is irrelevant and just rationalizing B.S. The van belonged to someone else and it was theirs to do with as they pleased. This was not an abandoned vehicle on public property. This was not an abandoned vehicle on someone else's property. This was an abandoned vehicle on the owner's property which, under California law, does not need registration as long as it stays off public roads. Any honest person, in the same situation, would use all reasonable means to find the owner and, if failing to do so, would forget about it.

Sorry, I see no grey area here nor do I see the "argument" from both sides. This guy is not noble and did not do a noble deed. He did it for himself and got caught. He also got a good deal in the plea bargain, as did the owner, IMO. Time for both to move on, as they say.