When converted or stolen property has been pawned and the pawnbroker refuses to redeliver such property to the rightful owner upon demand and presentation of a bill of sale or other proper indicia of ownership by the owner, and legal action by the rightful owner to recover the property becomes necessary, the court may assess the pawnbroker for reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the rightful owner, if the court finds that the pawnbroker wrongfully withheld the converted or stolen property. (Code 1981 § 38-61. Code 1995 § 114-98.)