Tampering in the second degree
Tampering in the second degree means messing with someone else's property to cause them a big hassle, riding in someone else's vehicle without permission, or messing with a utility company's equipment (like a gas or electric meter) to get free service or stop it from measuring correctly. This is usually a class A misdemeanor, but it becomes a felony if the person has done it before.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
569.090. in the second degree — penalties. — 1. A person commits the of tampering in the second degree if he or she:
(1) Tampers with property of another for the purpose of causing substantial inconvenience to that person or to another; or
(2) rides in or upon another's automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat or other motor-propelled vehicle; or
(3) Tampers or makes connection with property of a ; or
(4) Tampers with, or causes to be tampered with, any meter or other property of an electric, gas, steam or water utility, the effect of which tampering is either:
(a) To prevent the proper measuring of electric, gas, steam or water ; or
(b) To the of any electric, gas, steam or water service.
2. In any under (4) of 1, that a meter or any other property of a utility has been tampered with, and the person or persons accused received the use or direct of the electric, gas, steam or water service, with one or more of the described in subdivision (4) of subsection 1, shall be sufficient to support an which the may submit to the , from which the trier of fact may conclude that there has been a violation of such subdivision by the person or persons who use or receive the direct benefit of the electric, gas, steam or water service.
3. Tampering in the second degree is a unless:
(1) Committed as a second or of subdivision (4) of subsection 1, in which case it is a ; or
(2) The has a or has previously been paragraph (a) of subdivision (3) of subsection 5 of section 570.030, or subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section, in which case it is a .
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Source & history notes
(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1454, et al., A.L. 1986 S.B. 672, A.L. 2005 H.B. 353, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491, A.L. 2016 H.B. 2332) Effective 1-01-17
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.