Unlawful interference with places of burial

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. To remove any dead body of a human being for the purpose of selling the same, or for the purpose of dissection; or 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, c. 133, § 302, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 203, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2025, c. 486, § 676, eff. Jan. 1, 2026. NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 302 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.