2012 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses
Chapter 5 - OFFENSES AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS
Section 16-5-130 - Penalties for instigating, aiding or participating in riot.

A person who is convicted of riot, or of participating in a riot, either by being personally present, or by instigating, promoting, or aiding the same, is guilty of a:

(1) felony and must be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both, if the purpose of the assembly, or of the acts done or threatened or intended by the persons engaged, is to resist the enforcement of a statute of this State, or of the United States, or to obstruct any public officer of this State, or of the United States, in serving or executing any process or other mandate of a court of competent jurisdiction, or in the performance of any other duty; or if the offender carries, at the time of the riot, firearms, or any other dangerous weapon, or is disguised;

(2) misdemeanor and must be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than five hundred dollars, or both, if the offender directs, advises, encourages, or solicits other persons, present or participating in the riot or assembly, to acts of force or violence;

(3) misdemeanor and must be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than two hundred and fifty dollars, or both, in any case, not embraced within the foregoing subdivisions of this section.

This section must not be construed to prevent the peaceable assembling of persons for lawful purposes of protest or petition.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 16-113.1; 1968 (55) 2286; 1993 Act No. 184, Section 164.