Missouri Laws 210.165 – Penalty for violation
1. Any person violating any provision of sections 210.110 to 210.165 is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
2. Any person who intentionally files a false report of child abuse or neglect shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class E felony | up to 4 years | up to $10,000 |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 210.165
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
3. Every person who has been previously convicted of making a false report to the children’s division or its predecessor agency, the division of family services, and who is subsequently convicted of making a false report under subsection 2 of this section is guilty of a class E felony and shall be punished as provided by law.
4. Evidence of prior convictions of false reporting shall be heard by the court, out of the hearing of the jury, prior to the submission of the case to the jury, and the court shall determine the existence of the prior convictions.