Any person who, having knowledge of the actual commission of a crime or violation of statute, takes any money or property of another, or any gratuity or reward, or any engagement or promise therefor, upon any agreement or understanding, express or implied, to compound or conceal such crime, or violation of statute, or to abstain from any prosecution therefor, or to withhold any evidence thereof, is punishable as follows:

1. 1. By imprisonment for a Class D1 felony offense as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20N of this title, if the crime compounded is one punishable either by death or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for life;
2. 2. By imprisonment for a Class D1 felony offense as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20N of this title, if the crime compounded was punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for any other term than for life; or
3. 3. By imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment, if the crime or violation of statute compounded is a crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, or by fine, or is a misdemeanor, or violation of statute for which a pecuniary or other penalty or forfeiture is prescribed.

R.L. 1910, § 2255; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1213, c. 133, § 212 (effective date changed to July 1, 1999, by Laws 1998, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1002, c. 2, §§ 23-26, emerg. eff. June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1009, c. 5, § 120, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, HB 2104, c. 486, § 385, eff. January 1, 2026 (superseded document available).