524.040 Intimidating a participant in the legal process. (1) A person is guilty of intimidating a participant in the legal process when, by use of physical force or a threat directed to a person he believes to be a participant in the legal process, he or she: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Influences, or attempts to influence, the testimony, vote, decision, or opinion of that person; Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to avoid legal process summoning him or her to testify; Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to absent himself or herself from an official proceeding to which he has been legally summoned; Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to withhold a record, document, or other object from an official proceeding; Induces, or attempts to induce, that person to alter, destroy, mutilate, or conceal an object with intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (f) Hinders, delays, or prevents the communication to a law enforcement officer or judge of information relating to the possible commission of an offense or a violation of conditions of probation, parole or release pending judicial proceedings. (2) For purposes of this section: (a) An official proceeding need not be pending or about to be instituted at the time of the offense; and (3) (4) (b) The testimony, record, document, or other object need not be admissible in evidence or free of a claim of privilege. Intimidating a participant in the legal process is a Class D felony. In order for a person to be convicted of a violation of this section, the act against a participant in the legal process or the immediate family of a participant in the legal process shall be related to the performance of a duty or role played by the participant in the legal process. Effective: July 15, 2002 History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 251, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 212, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1986. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 203, effective January 1, 1975.