C:29-4. Compounding
A person commits a crime if he accepts or agrees to accept any
pecuniary benefit in consideration of refraining from reporting to law
enforcement authorities the commission or suspected commission of any
offense or information relating to an offense or from seeking
prosecution of an offense. A person commits a crime if he confers or
agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit in consideration of the other
person agreeing to refrain from any such reporting or seeking
prosecution. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this
section that the pecuniary benefit did not exceed an amount which the
actor reasonably believed to be due as restitution or indemnification
for harm caused by the offense. An offense proscribed by this section is
a crime of the second degree. If the thing of value accepted, agreed to
be accepted, conferred or agreed to be conferred is any benefit of
$200.00 or less, an offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the
third degree.
L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:29-4, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 58, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.
