Abandoned Property Dispute

[cariss]

I am located in Alberta, Canada. I am wondering if anybody can help me! I cant afford a lawyer and thought I might get some ideas on here.

I will try to keep my story short, but it is kind of complicated.

Ok, here goes, to make a long story short, I met a guy back in August of 2007 and shortly thereafter he began sleeping at my place most nights. Over the course of the next few months, some of his belongings started piling up in my house. He had his own apartment still though, and no legal agreement was made between the two of us that he was living with me. Then on November 19, to my utter surprise, he told me he was leaving to go back to his ex-wife who lives five hours away. I was shocked, but let him go, giving him the opportunity to get his stuff out of my house and out of my garage. He took everything but his guitar, and since he owed me money in the amount of 1000 dollars, he said if he didn't pay me back I could sell the guitar. I tried to get that in writing, but he wouldn't sign anything, just took off. We continued to fight. From November until February I never saw a penny of the money he owed me, nor did he even try and obtain the rest of his belongings from me. He never called or showed up. He finally paid me in the amount of 400 dollars on February 4 or thereabouts. I then was told after that numerous times he would pay me the rest on a number of occasions, but never did. So two weeks ago I sold his guitar. He is now telling me he will sue me for the guitar and for selling his belongings as he did not authorize me to do this. I have emails from him saying the opposite. In January he told me to sell it twice.

My question is, can I be held responsible for paying him back for the guitar I sold, or can it be considered abandoned property? I cant find anywhere to tell me how long I had to hold his belongings for him when he wasnt even living there. I am now being threatened with a law suit for "stealing" his stuff, when I have witness he left it there for me to sell. I know for abandoned property in the Landlord and Tenant Act, that there are laws there, but he was not a tenant, nor was I his landlord. He was a friend who was visiting as far as I am concerned. He left his stuff there. I think from November 19 until freaking May was PLENTY of time for him to make an attempt to get his stuff, but he never did.

Can somebody please shed some light on this? I am scared as to what may happen and I need some reassurance one way or another. Cant afford a lawyer!