2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 14 — Criminal law
RS 14:67.27 — Theft of copper from a religious building or cemetery or graveyard

§67.27. Theft of copper from a religious building or cemetery or graveyard

A. Theft of copper from a religious building or cemetery or graveyard is the misappropriation or the taking of copper from any church, synagogue, mosque, or other building used primarily for religious worship or cemetery or graveyard without the consent of the owner or custodian of the religious building or cemetery or graveyard. The intent to permanently deprive is essential.

B. As used in this Section:

(1) "Copper" means any copper, copper wire, or copper alloy, including bronze or brass.

(2) "Religious building" means a church, synagogue, mosque, or other building or structure used primarily for religious worship.

C.(1) Whoever commits the crime of theft of copper from a religious building or cemetery or graveyard, when the misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of one thousand dollars or more, shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than five years and not more than ten years, or may be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.

(2) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of five hundred dollars or more, but less than a value of one thousand dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than two years and not more than five years or may be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both.

(3) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to less than a value of five hundred dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned for not less than one year and not more than two years or may be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both.

(4) Upon any subsequent conviction, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than ten years or may be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.

Acts 2008, No. 657, §1.