(A) It is unlawful for a person to:

(1) falsely make, forge, or counterfeit; cause or procure to be falsely made, forged, or counterfeited; or wilfully act or assist in the false making, forging, or counterfeiting of any writing or instrument of writing;

(2) utter or publish as true any false, forged, or counterfeited writing or instrument of writing;

(3) falsely make, forge, counterfeit, alter, change, deface, or erase; or cause or procure to be falsely made, forged, counterfeited, altered, changed, defaced, or erased any record or plat of land; or

(4) willingly act or assist in any of the premises, with an intention to defraud any person.

(B) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a:

(1) felony and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, if the amount of the forgery is ten thousand dollars or more;

(2) felony and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, if the amount of the forgery is less than ten thousand dollars.

(C) If the forgery does not involve a dollar amount, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor under the jurisdiction of the magistrates or municipal court, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 22-3-540, 22-3-545, 22-3-550, and 14-25-65, and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 16-351; 1952 Code Section 16-351; 1942 Code Section 1211; 1932 Code Section 1211; Cr. C. '22 Section 99; Cr. C. '12 Section 528; Cr. C. '02 Section 373; G. S. 2527; R. S. 295; 1736-7 (3) 470-1 Sections 3-7; 1783 (4) 543; 1801 (5) 397; 1845 (11) 341; 1930 (36) 1203; 1993 Act No. 184, Section 106; 1995 Act No. 7, Part I Section 5; 2010 Act No. 273, Section 16.D, eff June 2, 2010.