2005 Montana Code Annotated - 45-6-301 — Theft.

     45-6-301. Theft. (1) A person commits the offense of theft when the person purposely or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over property of the owner and:
     (a) has the purpose of depriving the owner of the property;
     (b) purposely or knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the property in a manner that deprives the owner of the property; or
     (c) uses, conceals, or abandons the property knowing that the use, concealment, or abandonment probably will deprive the owner of the property.
     (2) A person commits the offense of theft when the person purposely or knowingly obtains by threat or deception control over property of the owner and:
     (a) has the purpose of depriving the owner of the property;
     (b) purposely or knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the property in a manner that deprives the owner of the property; or
     (c) uses, conceals, or abandons the property knowing that the use, concealment, or abandonment probably will deprive the owner of the property.
     (3) A person commits the offense of theft when the person purposely or knowingly obtains control over stolen property knowing the property to have been stolen by another and:
     (a) has the purpose of depriving the owner of the property;
     (b) purposely or knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the property in a manner that deprives the owner of the property; or
     (c) uses, conceals, or abandons the property knowing that the use, concealment, or abandonment probably will deprive the owner of the property.
     (4) A person commits the offense of theft when the person purposely or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over any part of any public assistance provided under Title 52 or 53 by a state or county agency, regardless of the original source of assistance, by means of:
     (a) a knowingly false statement, representation, or impersonation; or
     (b) a fraudulent scheme or device.
     (5) A person commits the offense of theft when the person purposely or knowingly obtains or exerts or helps another obtain or exert unauthorized control over any part of any benefits provided under Title 39, chapter 71, by means of:
     (a) a knowingly false statement, representation, or impersonation; or
     (b) deception or other fraudulent action.
     (6) (a) A person commits the offense of theft when the person purposely or knowingly commits insurance fraud as provided in 33-1-1202 or 33-1-1302;
     (b) purposely or knowingly diverts or misappropriates insurance premiums as provided in 33-17-1102; or
     (c) purposely or knowingly receives small business health insurance premium incentive payments or premium assistance payments or tax credits under Title 33, chapter 22, part 20, to which the person is not entitled.
     (7) A person commits the offense of theft of property by embezzlement when, with the purpose to deprive the owner of the property, the person:
     (a) purposely or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over property of the person's employer or over property entrusted to the person; or
     (b) purposely or knowingly obtains by deception control over property of the person's employer or over property entrusted to the person.
     (8) (a) Except as provided in subsection (8)(b), a person convicted of the offense of theft of property not exceeding $1,000 in value shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both. A person convicted of a second offense shall be fined $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both. A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall be fined $1,000 and be imprisoned in the county jail for a term of not less than 30 days or more than 6 months.
     (b) Except as provided in subsection (8)(c), a person convicted of the offense of theft of property exceeding $1,000 in value, theft of any commonly domesticated hoofed animal, or theft of any amount of anhydrous ammonia for the purpose of manufacturing dangerous drugs shall be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000 or be imprisoned in a state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.
     (c) A person convicted of the offense of theft of property exceeding $10,000 in value by embezzlement shall be imprisoned in a state prison for a term of not less than 1 year or more than 10 years and may be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000. The court may, in its discretion, place the person on probation with the requirement that restitution be made under terms set by the court. If the terms are not met, the required prison term may be ordered.
     (9) Amounts involved in thefts committed pursuant to a common scheme or the same transaction, whether from the same person or several persons, may be aggregated in determining the value of the property.

     History: En. by Sec. 1, Ch. 513, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 359, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, ; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 374, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 198, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 581, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 670, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 65, Ch. 464, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 739, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 190, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 616, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 618, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 237, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 397, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 70, Ch. 227, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 427, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 50, Ch. 380, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 137, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 35, Ch. 416, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 595, L. 2005.