US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

                                  TITLE  18
                            CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
                                  CHAPTER 67
                           COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY
    18-6711.  USE OF TELEPHONE TO TERRIFY, INTIMIDATE, HARASS OR ANNOY BY
FALSE STATEMENTS -- PENALTIES. (1) Every person who telephones another and
knowingly makes any false statements concerning injury, death, disfigurement,
indecent conduct or criminal conduct of the person telephoned or any member of
his family, with intent to terrify, intimidate, harass or annoy the called
person, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon a second or subsequent conviction of
the violation of the provisions of this section, the defendant shall be guilty
of a felony.
    (2)  The making of a false statement as herein set out may be prima facie
evidence of intent to terrify, intimidate, harass or annoy.
    (3)  For the purposes of this section, the term "telephone" shall mean any
device which provides transmission of messages, signals, facsimiles, video
images or other communication between persons who are physically separated
from each other by means of telephone, telegraph, cable, wire or the
projection of energy without physical connection.