2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 14:129.1 — Intimidating, impeding or injuring witnesses; injuring officers; penalties

§129.1.  Intimidating, impeding or injuring witnesses; injuring officers; penalties

No person shall intentionally:

(a)  Intimidate or impede, by threat of force or force, or attempt to intimidate or impede, by threat of force or force, a witness with intent to influence his testimony, his reporting of criminal conduct or his appearance at a judicial proceeding;

(b)  Injure or attempt to injure a witness in his person or property with intent to influence his testimony, his reporting of criminal conduct or his appearance at a judicial proceeding; or

(c)  Injure or attempt to injure an officer of a court of this state in his person or property because of the performance of his duties as an officer of a court of this state or with intent to influence the performance of his duties as an officer of a court of this state.  

For purposes of this Section a "witness" is a person (a) who is a victim of conduct defined as a crime under the laws of this state, another state or the United States, or (b) whose declaration under oath has been received in evidence in any court of this state, another state or the United States, or (c) who has reported a crime to a peace officer, prosecutor, probation or parole officer, correctional officer or judicial officer of this state, another state or the United States, or (d) who has been served with a subpoena issued under authority of any court of this state, another state or the United States.  

A witness also shall include a person who reasonably would be believed by an offender to be a witness as previously defined in this Section.  

Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.  

Added by Acts 1981, No. 866, §2.