(1) A person is guilty of tampering with a witness when, knowing that a person is or may be called as a witness in an official proceeding, he:
(a) Induces or attempts to induce the witness to absent himself or otherwise avoid appearing or testifying at the official proceeding with intent to influence the outcome thereby; or

Attorney's Note

Under the Kentucky Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class D felonybetween 1 and 5 yearsbetween $1,000 and $10,000
For details, see § 532.060

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Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 524.050

  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Official proceeding: means a proceeding heard before any legislative, judicial, administrative or other governmental agency or official authorized to hear evidence under oath, including any referee, hearing examiner, commissioner, notary or other person taking testimony or depositions in any such proceedings. See Kentucky Statutes 524.010
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Witness: means any person who may be called to testify in an official proceeding, has been called to testify in an official proceeding, is testifying in an official proceeding, or who has testified in an official proceeding. See Kentucky Statutes 524.010

(b) Knowingly makes any false statement or practices any fraud or deceit with intent to affect the testimony of the witness.
(2) Tampering with a witness is a Class D felony.
Effective: July 15, 2002
History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 251, sec. 4, effective July 15, 2002. — Created
1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 204, effective January 1, 1975.