Desecration of capitol, place of worship, cemetery, or public memorial
(1) In this section, "capitol" means the Montana state capitol building and any permanent monuments on the capitol grounds.
(2) A person commits the offense of desecration if the person purposely:
(a) defiles or defaces the capitol or a place of worship, cemetery, or public memorial;
(b) places on or attaches to the capitol or a place of worship, cemetery, or public memorial any mark, design, or material not properly a part of the capitol, place of worship, cemetery, or public memorial; or
(c) injures, damages, or destroys any portion of the capitol or of a place of worship, cemetery, or public memorial.
(3) A person convicted of the offense of desecration shall be:
(a) incarcerated for any term not to exceed 6 months or be fined an amount not to exceed $500, or both, if the damage does not exceed $1,500; or
(b) imprisoned in the state prison for any term not to exceed 10 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000, or both, if there is $1,500 or more of damage.
(4) With regard to the capitol, this section does not apply to displays or actions authorized by the department of administration.
| EnactedEn. SectionSec. 1, ChapterCh. 533, Laws ofL. 1995 |
| AmendedAmd. SectionSec. 1, ChapterCh. 141, Laws ofL. 1999 (HB 492 - Harper, Hal (D) HD 52) |
| AmendedAmd. SectionSec. 4, ChapterCh. 473, Laws ofL. 2009 (SB 476 - Shockley, Jim (R) SD 45) |