18-6710. USE OF TELEPHONE TO ANNOY, TERRIFY, THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, HARASS OR OFFEND BY LEWD OR PROFANE LANGUAGE, REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS OR PROPOSALS — THREATS OF PHYSICAL HARM — DISTURBING THE PEACE BY REPEATED CALLS — PENALTIES. (1) Every person who, with intent to annoy, terrify, threaten, intimidate, harass or offend, telephones another and (a) addresses to or about such person any obscene, lewd or profane language, or makes any request, suggestion or proposal which is obscene, lewd, lascivious or indecent; or (b) addresses to such other person any threat to inflict injury or physical harm to the person or property of the person addressed or any member of his family, or any other person; or (c) by repeated anonymous or identified telephone calls whether or not conversation ensues, disturbs the peace or attempts to disturb the peace, quiet, or right of privacy of any person at the place where the telephone call or calls are received, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to a term of not to exceed one (1) year in the county jail. Upon a second or subsequent conviction, the defendant shall be guilty of a felony and shall be sentenced to a term of not to exceed five (5) years in the state penitentiary.
(2) The use of obscene, lewd or profane language or the making of a threat or obscene proposal, or the making of repeated anonymous telephone calls as set forth in this section may be prima facie evidence of intent to annoy, terrify, threaten, intimidate, harass or offend.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the term "telephone" shall mean any device which provides transmission of messages, signals, facsimiles, video images or other communication between persons who are physically separated from each other by means of telephone, telegraph, cable, wire or the projection of energy without physical connection.
History:
[18-6710, added 1980, ch. 326, sec. 2, p. 841; am. 1994, ch. 167, sec. 5, p. 376.]