Arkansas Law

§ 5-13-208. Coercion.

(a) A person commits coercion if he compels or induces another person to engage in conduct from which the other person has a legal right to abstain, or to abstain from engaging in conduct in which he has a legal right to engage, by purposeful conduct designed to instill in the other person a fear that, if a demand is not complied with, the actor or another person will:

     (1) Cause physical injury to anyone;

     (2) Cause damage to property;

     (3) Subject anyone to physical confinement;

     (4) Accuse anyone of an offense or cause criminal proceedings to be instituted against anyone; or

     (5) Expose a secret or publicize an asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject anyone to hatred, contempt, or ridicule.

(b) Coercion is a Class A misdemeanor.

History. Acts 1975, No. 280, § 1609; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-1609.