524.040 Intimidating a participant in the legal process.

308 words·~1 min read·/ky/chapter-524/524-040

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)A person is guilty of intimidating a participant in the legal process when, by use of

harassing communications as described in KRS 525.080, physical force, or a threat

directed to a person he or she believes to be a participant in the legal process, he or

she:

(a)Influences, or attempts to influence, the testimony, vote, decision, or opinion

of that person;

(b)Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to avoid legal process summoning

him or her to testify;

(c)Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to absent himself or herself from

an official proceeding to which he has been legally summoned;

(d)Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to withhold a record, document, or

other object from an official proceeding;

(e)Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to alter, destroy, mutilate, or

conceal an object with intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for

use in an official proceeding; or

(f)Hinders, delays, or prevents the communication to a law enforcement officer

or judge of information relating to the possible commission of an offense or a

violation of conditions of probation, parole or release pending judicial

proceedings.

(2)For purposes of this section:

(a)An official proceeding need not be pending or about to be instituted at the

time of the offense; and

(b)The testimony, record, document, or other object need not be admissible in

evidence or free of a claim of privilege.

(3)Intimidating a participant in the legal process is a Class D felony.

(4)In order for a person to be convicted of a violation of this section, the act against a

participant in the legal process or the immediate family of a participant in the legal

process shall be related to the performance of a duty or role played by the

participant in the legal process.