HB 1427 -- Harassment

Sponsor:  Biermann

This bill expands the crime of harassment to include when a
person knowingly and anonymously makes or causes to be made a
communication to another person which is a threat to commit any
felony and in so doing frightens, intimidates, or causes
emotional distress to the other person.

The definition of "course of conduct" is revised as it relates to
the crime of stalking to include illegal wire tapping or the use
of cellular phones, the Internet, cameras or videos, or global
positioning systems or any other type of tracking device; and the
definition of "harasses" is revised to include written or printed
communication or transmission, telephone or other wireless
telephonic communication, and electronic mail messages or other
computerized or electronic transmissions.  A person will be
guilty of aggravated stalking if the person purposely, through
his or her course of conduct, harasses or follows with the intent
of harassing another person and at any time during the course of
conduct possesses a deadly weapon.

The bill also creates the crime of cyber stalking when a person
knowingly and without lawful justification either harasses
another person through the use of electronic or technological
means on two or more occasions or creates and maintains an
Internet web site or web page which is accessible to one or more
third parties for at least 24 hours which contains statements
harassing another person and also transmits a threat of bodily
harm, sexual assault, confinement, or restraint directed toward
the victim or a family member of the victim; which places the
victim or family member of the victim in reasonable apprehension
of immediate or future bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement,
or restraint; or which knowingly solicits the commission of a
crime by any person directed toward the victim or a family member
of the victim.  Anyone committing the crime will be guilty of a
class A misdemeanor.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:10 pm