570.020. Determination of value.
Determination of value.
570.020. For the purposes of this chapter, the value of propertyshall be ascertained as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise specified in this section, "value" means themarket value of the property at the time and place of the crime, or if suchcannot be satisfactorily ascertained, the cost of replacement of theproperty within a reasonable time after the crime. If the victim is amerchant, as defined in section 400.2-104, RSMo, and the property is a typethat the merchant sells in the ordinary course of business, then theproperty shall be valued at the price that such merchant would normallysell such property;
(2) Whether or not they have been issued or delivered, certainwritten instruments, not including those having a readily ascertainablemarket value such as some public and corporate bonds and securities, shallbe evaluated as follows:
(a) The value of an instrument constituting evidence of debt, such asa check, draft or promissory note, shall be deemed the amount due orcollectible thereon or thereby, such figure ordinarily being the faceamount of the indebtedness less any portion thereof which has beensatisfied;
(b) The value of any other instrument which creates, releases,discharges or otherwise affects any valuable legal right, privilege orobligation shall be deemed the greatest amount of economic loss which theowner of the instrument might reasonably suffer by virtue of the loss ofthe instrument;
(3) When the value of property cannot be satisfactorily ascertainedpursuant to the standards set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2) of thissection, its value shall be deemed to be an amount less than five hundreddollars.
(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1888 merged with H.B. 2120)