State v. Mathis, ___ N.C. App. ___, 819 S.E.2d 627 (Sept. 4, 2018)

The evidence was insufficient to support the defendant’s conviction of obtaining property by false pretenses. The case arose out of false information submitted by the defendant in connection with his work as a bail bondsman. The indictment alleged that the thing of value obtained was a Professional Bail Bondsman’s License. At the time of the alleged acts, the defendant already had a bail bondsman license. The State argued, however, that the defendant’s false representations allowed him to retain his license, which--according to the State--constituted obtaining property. The court disagreed, concluding that retaining is not the same as obtaining. Among other things, it noted that the Department of Insurance has different processes and requirements for obtaining a bail bondsman license and renewing such a license.