This page is an unofficial LFoD record and is not legal advice. Verify the document against the official source before relying on it.

RSA 631:4: Criminal Threatening

631:4 Criminal Threatening. –

I.

A person is guilty of criminal threatening when:

(a)

By physical conduct, the person purposely places or attempts to place another in fear of imminent bodily injury or physical contact; or

(b)

The person places any object or graffiti on the property of another with a purpose to coerce or terrorize any person; or

(c)

The person threatens to commit any crime against the property of another with a purpose to coerce or terrorize any person; or

(d)

The person threatens to commit any crime against the person of another with a purpose to terrorize any person; or

(e)

The person threatens to commit any crime of violence, or threatens the delivery or use of a biological or chemical substance, with a purpose to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, facility of public transportation or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of causing such fear, terror or inconvenience; or

(f)

The person delivers, threatens to deliver, or causes the delivery of any substance the actor knows could be perceived as a biological or chemical substance, to another person with the purpose of causing fear or terror, or in reckless disregard of causing such fear or terror.

II.

(a) Criminal threatening is a class B felony if the person:

(1)

Violates the provisions of subparagraph I(e); or

(2)

Uses a deadly weapon as defined in RSA 625:11, V in the violation of the provisions of subparagraph I(a), I(b), I(c), or I(d).

(b)

All other criminal threatening is a misdemeanor.

III.

(a) As used in this section, "property" has the same meaning as in RSA 637:2, I; "property of another" has the same meaning as in RSA 637:2, IV.

(b)

As used in this section, "terrorize" means to cause alarm, fright, or dread; the state of mind induced by the apprehension of hurt from some hostile or threatening event or manifestation.

IV.

A person who responds to a threat which would be considered by a reasonable person as likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to the person or to another by displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense with the intent to warn away the person making the threat shall not have committed a criminal act under this section. Source. 1971, 518:1. 1983, 338:1. 1994, 187:2. 1996, 92:1. 2002, 222:7. 2003, 69:1. 2010, 361:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.