If any person shall make or display, or cause to be made or displayed, any false light or beacon on or near the seacoast, for the purpose of deceiving and misleading masters of vessels, and thereby putting them in danger of shipwreck, he shall be guilty of a Class I felony. (1831, c. 42; R.C., c. 34, s. 58; Code, s. 1024; Rev., s. 3430; C.S., s. 4421; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 16; 1981, c. 63, s. 1, c. 179, s. 14; 1993, c. 539, s. 1223; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)