Unlawful branding consists of either:

Attorney's Note

Under the New Mexico Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
fourth degree felonyup to 18 monthsup to $5,000
For details, see N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-18-15

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A. branding, marking or causing to be branded or marked any animal, which is the property of another, with any brand not the brand of the owner of the animal;

B. defacing or obliterating any brand or mark upon any animal which is the property of another; or

C. using any brand unless said brand shall have been duly recorded in the office of the cattle sanitary board of New Mexico [New Mexico livestock board] or the sheep sanitary board of New Mexico [New Mexico livestock board], whichever is applicable, and the person holds a certificate from the cattle sanitary board [New Mexico livestock board] or the sheep sanitary board [New Mexico livestock board] certifying to the fact of such record.

Whoever commits unlawful branding is guilty of a fourth degree felony.