2010 Mississippi Code
TITLE 97 - CRIMES
Chapter 9 - Offenses Affecting Administration of Justice.
97-9-1 - Court forms and legal process; printing, selling or distributing simulated legal documents prohibited.
§ 97-9-1. Court forms and legal process; printing, selling or distributing simulated legal documents prohibited.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to print for the purpose of sale or distribution, to circulate or offer for sale, to send or deliver, to cause to be sent or delivered, any letter, paper, document, notice of intent to bring suit, or other notice or demand which simulates a form of court or legal process, the intention of which document is to lead the recipient or addressee to believe the same to be a genuine court or legal process, for the purpose of obtaining anything of value.
(2) The printing, circulating, selling, sending or delivery of such simulating document shall be prima facie evidence of such intent, and it shall be no defense to show that the document bears any statement to the contrary, nor shall it be a defense to show that the thing of value sought to be obtained was to apply as payment on a valid obligation.
(3) In prosecutions for violation of this section, the prosecution may show that the simulating document was deposited in the post office for mailing or was delivered to any person with intent to be forwarded, and such showing shall be sufficient proof to the sending or delivery.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the printing, publication, sale or distribution of genuine legal forms for the use of attorneys, clerks of court or justices of the peace.
(5) Any person, firm or corporation violating subsection (1) of this section shall be fined, for the first offense, not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), or be imprisoned in the county jail not to exceed thirty (30) days, or by both such a fine and imprisonment; for subsequent offenses, not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both such a fine and imprisonment.
Sources: Codes, 1942, § 2150.5; Laws, 1966, ch. 386, §§ 1-5, eff from and after passage (approved February 17, 1966).
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