§ 3-708. Threat against State or local official

   (a) Definitions. --

   (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

   (2) "Local official" means an individual serving in a publicly elected office of a local government unit, as defined in § 10-101 of the State Government Article.

   (3) (i) "State official" has the meaning stated in § 15-102 of the State Government Article.

      (ii) "State official" includes the Governor, Governor-elect, Lieutenant Governor, and Lieutenant Governor-elect.

   (4) "Threat" includes:

      (i) an oral threat; or

      (ii) a threat in any written form, whether or not the writing is signed, or if the writing is signed, whether or not it is signed with a fictitious name or any other mark.

(b) Prohibited -- Making threat. -- A person may not knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of, kidnap, or cause physical injury to a State official, a local official, a deputy State's Attorney, an assistant State's Attorney, or an assistant Public Defender.

(c) Prohibited -- Sending or delivering threat. -- A person may not knowingly send, deliver, part with, or make for the purpose of sending or delivering a threat prohibited under subsection (b) of this section.

(d) Penalty. -- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $ 2,500 or both.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 561A; 2002, ch. 26, § 2; 2013, ch. 373.