Any person who opens any grave or any place of burial, temporary or otherwise, or who breaks open any building wherein any dead body of a human being is deposited while awaiting burial, with intent either:

1. 1. To remove any dead body of a human being for the purpose of selling the same, or for the purpose of dissection; or

2. 2. To steal the coffin, or any part thereof or anything attached thereto, or connected therewith, or the vestments or other articles buried with the same,

   shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class D3 felony offense punishable by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20P of this title, or by a fine not exceeding Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

R.L. 1910, § 2458; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1213, c. 133, § 302 (effective date amended 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 June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, 1st Extr.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, § 203, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, HB 2104, c. 486, § 676, eff. January 1, 2026 (superseded document available).