21-6103. Criminal false communication. (a) Criminal false communication is:

(1) Communicating to any person, by any means, information that the person communicating such information knows to be false and will tend to:

(A) Expose another living person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule;

(B) deprive such person of the benefits of public confidence and social acceptance; or

(C) degrade and vilify the memory of one who is dead and to scandalize or provoke surviving relatives and friends; or

(2) recklessly making, circulating or causing to be circulated any false report, statement or rumor with intent to injure the financial standing or reputation of any bank, financial or business institution or the financial standing of any individual in this state.

(b) Criminal false communication is a class A nonperson misdemeanor.

(c) In all prosecutions under this section the truth of the information communicated shall be admitted as evidence. It shall be a defense to a charge of criminal false communication if it is found that such matter was true.

History: L. 2010, ch. 136, § 173; July 1, 2011.