2013 Maryland Code
AGRICULTURE
§ 4-228 - Penalties for false entries in reports or records; removing, falsifying, etc., documentary evidence, and refusing to testify; making public information obtained by Secretary

§4-228.

(a) (1) Any person is guilty of a misdemeanor if he knowingly:

(i) Makes or causes to be made a false entry or statement of fact in any report required under this subtitle;

(ii) Makes or causes to be made a false entry in any account, record, or memorandum kept by any person subject to this subtitle;

(iii) Neglects or fails to make or cause to be made full, true, and correct entries in accounts, records, or memoranda of all facts and transactions pertaining to the business of any person subject to this subtitle;

(iv) Removes out of the jurisdiction or intentionally mutilates, alters, or falsifies by other means any documentary evidence of any person subject to this subtitle; or

(v) Refuses to submit to the Secretary, for the purposes of inspection and taking copies, any documentary evidence of any person subject to this subtitle if it is possessed by him or within his control.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, upon conviction of any of the above violations, a person is subject to a fine of not less than $1,000, nor more than $5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both, with costs imposed in the discretion of the court.

(b) Any person, who neglects or refuses to attend, testify, or answer any lawful inquiry or produce documentary evidence, when he has the power to do so, in obedience to the subpoena or lawful requirement of the Secretary, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, upon conviction, he is subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both, with costs imposed in the discretion of the court.

(c) Notwithstanding any other penalty provided by this article, any officer or employee of the State who makes public any information obtained by the Secretary without its authority, unless directed by a court, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both, with costs imposed in the discretion of the court.