Section 135.60. Coercion in the second degree  


Latest version.
  • A  person  is  guilty  of coercion in the second degree when he or she
      compels or induces a person to engage in conduct which the latter has  a
      legal  right to abstain from engaging in, or to abstain from engaging in
      conduct in which he or she has a legal right to engage,  or  compels  or
      induces  a  person  to join a group, organization or criminal enterprise
      which such latter person has a right to abstain from joining,  by  means
      of  instilling  in him or her a fear that, if the demand is not complied
      with, the actor or another will:
        1. Cause physical injury to a person; or
        2. Cause damage to property; or
        3. Engage in other conduct constituting a crime; or
        4. Accuse some person of a crime  or  cause  criminal  charges  to  be
      instituted against him or her; or
        5.  Expose  a  secret  or  publicize an asserted fact, whether true or
      false, tending to subject some person to hatred, contempt  or  ridicule;
      or
        6.  Cause  a  strike,  boycott  or other collective labor group action
      injurious to some person's business; except that such a threat shall not
      be deemed coercive when the act or omission compelled is for the benefit
      of the group in whose interest the actor purports to act; or
        7. Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information
      with respect to another's legal claim or defense; or
        8. Use or abuse his or her position as a public servant by  performing
      some  act within or related to his or her official duties, or by failing
      or refusing to perform an official duty, in such  manner  as  to  affect
      some person adversely; or
        9.  Perform any other act which would not in itself materially benefit
      the actor but which is calculated to harm another person materially with
      respect to  his  or  her  health,  safety,  business,  calling,  career,
      financial condition, reputation or personal relationships.
        Coercion in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.