§ 133.485 Perishable property; livestock or fowls

When police seize property in a criminal case, sometimes that property can spoil or die if it sits around too long. This rule covers situations like seized farm animals, fresh food, or other goods that lose value quickly over time.

If this happens, the sheriff can ask the court for permission to sell the property right away instead of holding onto it. This makes sense for things like livestock or poultry, since feeding and caring for them gets expensive fast. It also applies to any other property that will rot or spoil if kept in storage.

Once the court approves the sale, the sheriff sells the property the same way property gets sold when a court orders someone's belongings sold to pay off a debt. This process protects the value of the property so it doesn't become worthless or costly to store while the criminal case moves forward. The money from the sale would typically be held to represent the property until the case is resolved.