PARIS
A French couple has received a suspended two-year prison sentence after being convicted of receiving stolen works of art by Pablo Picasso.
The High Court of Grasse, in southeastern France, convicted Pierre and Danielle Le Guennec on Friday for "receiving stolen goods," in this case, 271 works of art by one of the most famous 20th century artists.
Pierre Le Guennec, Picasso's former electrician, and his wife stored the art works on a shelf at the back of their garage for nearly 40 years.
The case started in 2009 when the couple took the art pieces to the Picasso Administration, which represents the artist's six legal heirs, in Paris for evaluation and authentication.
Picasso's legal heirs immediately brought charges against the couple.
Le Guennec, 75, told the court that Picasso's wife Jacqueline gave him a box with the art works inside in the early 1970s, saying: "This is for you."
But the prosecution convinced judges that the works of art were stolen, although it could not be proven that the couple had actually stolen them.
The couple had potentially faced up to five years in prison and a 375,000 euro ($400,000) fine. Instead, they were given a 2-year suspended sentence, and forced to return the works of art to the Picasso Administration.
Even the prosecutor noted that the elderly couple "had not gained any money from holding the paintings, and were completely 'over their heads' in this affair."
