In this Chapter, unless the context requires a different definition,
the following shall apply:
To instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve or
extract data from, or otherwise make any use of any resources of,
a computer, computer system, or computer network.
Any person who develops exposed photographic film into negatives,
slides or prints, or who makes prints from negatives or slides, for
compensation. The term commercial film and photographic print processor
shall include all employees of such persons but shall not include
a person who develops film or makes prints for a public agency.
The box that houses the central processing unit (CPU), along
with any internal storage devices, such as internal hard drives, and
internal communication devices, such as internal modems capable of
sending or receiving electronic mail or fax cards, along with any
other hardware stored or housed internally. Thus, "computer" refers
to hardware, software and data contained in the main unit. Printers,
external modems attached by cable to the main unit, monitors, and
other external attachments will be referred to collectively as "peripherals"
and discussed individually when appropriate. When the computer and
all peripherals are referred to as a package, the term "computer system"
is used. "Information" refers to all the information on a computer
system, including both software applications and data.
Computers, terminals, data storage devices, and all other
computer hardware associated with a computer system or network.
All equipment which can collect, analyze, create, display,
convert, store, conceal or transmit electronic, magnetic, optical
or similar computer impulses or data. "Hardware" includes, but is
not limited to, any data processing devices, such as central processing
units, memory typewriters and self-contained laptop or notebook computers;
internal and peripheral storage devices, transistor-like binary devices
and other memory storage devices, such as floppy disks, removable
disks, compact disks, digital video disks, magnetic tape, hard drive,
optical disks and digital memory; local area networks, such as two
(2) or more computers connected together to a central computer server
via cable or modem; peripheral input or output devices, such as keyboards,
printers, scanners, plotters, video display monitors and optical readers;
and related communication devices, such as modems, cables and connections,
recording equipment, RAM or ROM units, acoustic couplers, automatic
dialers, speed dialers, programmable telephone dialing or signaling
devices and electronic tone-generating devices; as well as any devices,
mechanisms or parts that can be used to restrict access to computer
hardware, such as physical keys and locks.
Two (2) or more interconnected computers or computer systems.
A set of instructions, statements, or related data that directs
or is intended to direct a computer to perform certain functions.
Digital information which can be interpreted by a computer
and any of its related components to direct the way they work. Software
is stored in electronic, magnetic, optical or other digital form.
The term commonly includes programs to run operating systems and applications,
such as word processing, graphic, or spreadsheet programs, utilities,
compilers, interpreters and communications programs.
A set of related, connected or unconnected, computer equipment,
data, or software.
Written, recorded, printed or electronically stored material
which explains or illustrates how to configure or use computer hardware,
software or other related items.
A person is in confinement when such person is held in a place
of confinement pursuant to arrest or order of a court and remains
in confinement until:
A person is not in confinement if:
The person is on probation or parole, temporary or otherwise;
or
The person is under sentence to serve a term of confinement
which is not continuous, or is serving a sentence under a work-release
program, and in either such case is not being held in a place of confinement
or is not being held under guard by a person having the legal power
and duty to transport the person to or from a place of confinement.
Consent or lack of consent may be expressed or implied. Assent
does not constitute consent if:
It is given by a person who lacks the mental capacity to authorize
the conduct charged to constitute the offense and such mental incapacity
is manifest or known to the actor; or
It is given by a person who by reason of youth, mental disease
or defect, intoxication, a drug-induced state, or any other reason
is manifestly unable or known by the actor to be unable to make a
reasonable judgment as to the nature or harmfulness of the conduct
charged to constitute the offense; or
It is induced by force, duress or deception.
A drug, substance, or immediate precursor in Schedules I
through V as defined in Chapter 195, RSMo.
Failure to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk
that circumstances exist or a result will follow, and such failure
constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable
person would exercise in the situation.
A person is in custody when he/she has been arrested but
has not been delivered to a place of confinement.
When used in relation to a computer system or network, means
any alteration, deletion, or destruction of any part of the computer
system or network.
The felonies of arson in the first degree, assault in the
first degree, attempted rape in the first degree if physical injury
results, attempted forcible rape if physical injury results, attempted
sodomy in the first degree if physical injury results, attempted forcible
sodomy if physical injury results, rape in the first degree, forcible
rape, sodomy in the first degree, forcible sodomy, assault in the
second degree if the victim of such assault is a special victim as
defined in Subdivision (14) of Section 565.002, RSMo., kidnapping
in the first degree, kidnapping, murder in the second degree, assault
of a Law Enforcement Officer in the first degree, domestic assault
in the first degree, elder abuse in the first degree, robbery in the
first degree, armed criminal action, conspiracy to commit an offense
when the offense is a dangerous felony, vehicle hijacking when punished
as a Class A felony, statutory rape in the first degree when the victim
is a child less than twelve (12) years of age at the time of the commission
of the act giving rise to the offense, statutory sodomy in the first
degree when the victim is a child less than twelve (12) years of age
at the time of the commission of the act giving rise to the offense,
child molestation in the first or second degree, abuse of a child
if the child dies as a result of injuries sustained from conduct chargeable
under Section 568.060, RSMo., child kidnapping, parental kidnapping
committed by detaining or concealing the whereabouts of the child
for not less than one hundred twenty (120) days under Section 565.153,
RSMo., and an "intoxication-related traffic offense" or "intoxication-related
boating offense" if the person is found to be an "habitual offender"
or "habitual boating offender" as such terms are defined in Section
577.001, RSMo.
Any instrument, article or substance which, under the circumstances
in which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or other
serious physical injury.
A representation of information, facts, knowledge, concepts,
or instructions prepared in a formalized or other manner and intended
for use in a computer or computer network. Data may be in any form
including, but not limited to, printouts, microfiche, magnetic storage
media, punched cards and as may be stored in the memory of a computer.
Any firearm, loaded or unloaded, or any weapon from which
a shot, readily capable of producing death or serious physical injury,
may be discharged; or a switchblade knife, dagger, billy club, blackjack
or metal knuckles.
A camera that records images in a format which enables the
images to be downloaded into a computer.
A mental, physical, or developmental impairment that substantially
limits one (1) or more major life activities or the ability to provide
adequately for one's care or protection, whether the impairment is
congenital or acquired by accident, injury or disease, where such
impairment is verified by medical findings.
A person sixty (60) years of age or older.
An offense so designated or an offense for which persons
found guilty thereof may be sentenced to death or imprisonment for
a term of more than one (1) year.
Either:
A temporary or permanent physical or mental condition in
which a person is unconscious, unable to appraise the nature of his/her
conduct, or unable to communicate unwillingness to an act.
A violation defined by this Code or by any other Statute
of this State if it is so designated or if no sentence other than
a fine, or fine and forfeiture or other civil penalty, is authorized
upon conviction.
When used with respect to conduct or attendant circumstances,
means a person is aware of the nature of his or her conduct or that
those circumstances exist; or
When used with respect to a result of conduct, means a person
is aware that his or her conduct is practically certain to cause that
result.
Any public servant having both the power and duty to make
arrests for violations of the laws of this State, and Federal Law
Enforcement Officers authorized to carry firearms and to make arrests
for violations of the laws of the United States.
An offense so designated or an offense for which persons
found guilty thereof may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of
which the maximum is one (1) year or less.
Property that any entity, including but not limited to any
natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
association, governmental subdivision or instrumentality, other than
the actor, has a possessory or proprietary interest therein, except
that property shall not be deemed property of another who has only
a security interest therein, even if legal title is in the creditor
pursuant to a conditional sales contract or other security arrangement.
Any felony, ordinance violation, misdemeanor or infraction.
Slight impairment of any function of the body or temporary
loss of use of any part of the body.
Any building or facility and the grounds thereof wherein
a court is legally authorized to order that a person charged with
or convicted of a crime or offense be held.
Having actual or constructive possession of an object with
knowledge of its presence. A person has actual possession if such
person has the object on his/her person or within easy reach and convenient
control. A person has constructive possession if such person has the
power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion or control
over the object either directly or through another person or persons.
Possession may also be sole or joint. If one (1) person alone has
possession of an object, possession is sole. If two (2) or more persons
share possession of an object, possession is joint.
Anything of value, whether real or personal, tangible or
intangible, in possession or in action.
Any person employed in any way by a government of this State
who is compensated by the government by reason of such person's employment,
any person appointed to a position with any government of this State,
or any person elected to a position with any government of this State.
It includes, but is not limited to, legislators, jurors, members of
the judiciary and Law Enforcement Officers. It does not include witnesses.
When used with respect to a person's conduct or to a result
thereof, means when it is his/her conscious object to engage in that
conduct or to cause that result.
Consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that circumstances exist or that a result will follow, and such
disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care
which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation.
An injury that creates a substantial risk of temporary or
permanent medical or psychological damage, manifested by impairment
of a behavioral, cognitive or physical condition. Serious emotional
injury shall be established by testimony of qualified experts upon
the reasonable expectation of probable harm to a reasonable degree
of medical or psychological certainty.
Physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death
or that causes serious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment
of the function of any part of the body.
When used in relation to a computer system or network, means
use of a computer, computer system, or computer network and includes,
but is not limited to, computer time, data processing, and storage
or retrieval functions.
Male or female heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality
by inclination, practice, identity or expression, or having a self-image
or identity not traditionally associated with one's gender.
Any of the following:
A Law Enforcement Officer assaulted in the performance of his
or her official duties or as a direct result of such official duties;
Emergency personnel, any paid or volunteer firefighter, emergency
room, hospital, or trauma center personnel, or emergency medical technician,
assaulted in the performance of his or her official duties or as a
direct result of such official duties;
A probation and parole officer assaulted in the performance
of his/her official duties or as a direct result of such official
duties;
An elderly person;
A person with a disability;
A vulnerable person;
Any jailer or corrections officer of the State or one (1) of
its political subdivisions assaulted in the performance of his/her
official duties or as a direct result of such official duties;
A highway worker in a construction or work zone as the terms
"highway worker," "construction zone" and "work zone" are defined
under Section 304.580, RSMo.;
Any utility worker, meaning any employee of a utility that provides
gas, heat, electricity, water, steam, telecommunications services,
or sewer services, whether privately, municipally, or cooperatively
owned, while in the performance of his/her job duties, including any
person employed under a contract;
Any cable worker, meaning any employee of a cable operator,
as such term is defined in Section 67.2677, RSMo., including any person
employed under contract, while in the performance of his/her job duties;
and
Any employee of a mass transit system, including any employee
of public bus or light rail companies, while in the performance of
his/her job duties.
A self-propelled mechanical device designed to carry a person
or persons, excluding vessels or aircraft.
Any boat or craft propelled by a motor or by machinery, whether
or not such motor or machinery is a principal source of propulsion
used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water,
or any boat or craft more than twelve (12) feet in length which is
powered by sail alone or by a combination of sail and machinery, and
used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water,
but not any boat or craft having, as the only means of propulsion,
a paddle or oars.
A bodily movement performed while conscious as a result of effort
or determination. Possession is a voluntary act if the possessor knowingly
procures or receives the thing possessed, or having acquired control
of it was aware of his/her control for a sufficient time to have enabled
him or her to dispose of it or terminate his/her control; or
An omission to perform an act of which the actor is physically
capable. A person is not guilty of an offense based solely upon an
omission to perform an act unless the law defining the offense expressly
so provides, or a duty to perform the omitted act is otherwise imposed
by law.
Any person in the custody, care, or control of the Department
of Mental Health who is receiving services from an operated, funded,
licensed, or certified program.
A.
Guilt for an offense may be based upon an attempt to commit an offense
if, with the purpose of committing the offense, a person performs
any act which is a substantial step towards the commission of the
offense. A "substantial step" is conduct which is strongly corroborative
of the firmness of the actor's purpose to complete the commission
of the offense.
B.
It is no defense to a prosecution under this Section that the offense
attempted was, under the actual attendant circumstances, factually
or legally impossible of commission, if such offense could have been
committed had the attendant circumstances been as the actor believed
them to be.
[1]
Editor's Note: This Section previously pertained to conspiracy
to commit an offense. However, the authorizing Statute, § 562.014,
RSMo., was revised by SB 600 in the 2020 Legislative Session to apply
only to conspiracy to commit a Class A, B, or C felony offense or
certain unclassified felony offenses. SB 600 also reclassified the
offense of conspiracy to commit an offense as a Class C felony.
