Missouri Laws 578.430 – Buildings, rooms and structures used for criminal street gangs’ activities ..
1. Any room, building, structure or inhabitable structure as defined in section 556.061 which is used by a criminal street gang in a pattern of criminal street gang activity shall be deemed a public nuisance. No person shall keep or maintain such a public nuisance.
2. The attorney general, circuit attorney or prosecuting attorney may, in addition to any criminal prosecutions, prosecute a suit in equity to enjoin the public nuisance. If the court finds that the owner of the room, building, structure or inhabitable structure knew that the premises were being used for criminal street gangs in a pattern of criminal street gang activity, the court may order that the premises shall not be occupied or used for such period as the court may determine, not to exceed one year.
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class D felony | up to 7 years | up to $10,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 578.430
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
3. All persons, including owners, lessees, officers, agents, offenders or employees, aiding or facilitating such a nuisance may be made defendants in any suit to enjoin the nuisance.
4. It is unlawful for a person to keep or maintain such a public nuisance. In addition to any other criminal prosecutions, the prosecuting attorney or circuit attorney may by information or indictment charge the owner or the occupant, or both the owner and the occupant, of the room, building, structure, or inhabitable structure with the crime of keeping or maintaining a public nuisance. Keeping or maintaining a public nuisance is a class D felony.