21-4004. Criminal defamation.

21-4004

Chapter 21.--CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS PART II.--PROHIBITED CONDUCT Article 40.--CRIMES INVOLVING VIOLATIONS OF PERSONAL RIGHTS

      21-4004.   Criminal defamation.(a) Criminal defamation is communicating to a person orally,in writing, or by any other means, information, knowing theinformation to be false and with actual malice, tending to exposeanother living person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule; tending todeprive such person of the benefits of public confidence and socialacceptance; or tendingto degrade and vilify the memory of one who is dead and to scandalize orprovoke surviving relatives and friends.

      (b)   In all prosecutions under this section the truth of the informationcommunicated shall be admitted as evidence. It shall be a defense to acharge of criminal defamation if it is found that such matter was true.

      (c)   Criminal defamation is a class A nonperson misdemeanor.

      History:   L. 1969, ch. 180, § 21-4004;L. 1992, ch. 239, § 187;L. 1993, ch. 291, § 135;L. 1995, ch. 251, § 14; July 1.