§ 97-9-113. Intimidating a witness

MS Code § 97-9-113 (2019) (N/A)
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(1) A person commits the crime of intimidating a witness if he intentionally or knowingly:

(a) Attempts, by use of a threat directed to a witness or a person he believes will be called as a witness in any official proceedings, to:

(i) Influence the testimony of that person;

(ii) Induce that person to avoid legal process summoning him to testify; or

(iii) Induce that person to absent himself from an official proceeding to which he has been legally summoned;

(b) Harasses or intimidates or attempts to threaten, harass or intimidate a witness or a person reasonably expected to be a witness;

(c) Attempts to influence the testimony of a witness or a person reasonably expected to be a witness by rendering criminal assistance to another being investigated for or charged with criminal activity; or

(d) Solicits, encourages or requests a witness to provide false information intended to defeat or defend against an existing criminal charge or to hinder or interfere an ongoing investigation of a criminal act.

(2) Intimidating a witness is a Class 1 felony.

(3) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section if the actual completion of the threat, harassment or intimidation was prevented from occurring.