MODEL PENAL CODE ANNOTATED
 

MODEL PENAL CODE

 
Section 212.5. Criminal Coercion.

 (1) Offense Defined.  A person is guilty of criminal coercion if, with purpose unlawfully to restrict another's freedom of action to his detriment, he threatens to:

  (a) commit any criminal offense;  or

  (b) accuse anyone of a criminal offense;  or

  (c) expose any secret tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair his credit or business repute;  or

  (d) take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action.

 It is an affirmative defense to prosecution based on paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) that the actor believed the accusation or secret to be true or the proposed official action justified and that his purpose was limited to compelling the other to behave in a way reasonably related to the circumstances which were the subject of the accusation, exposure or proposed official action, as by desisting from further misbehavior, making good a wrong done, refraining from taking any action or responsibility for which the actor believes the other disqualified.

 (2) Grading.  Criminal coercion is a misdemeanor unless the threat is to commit a felony or the actor's purpose is felonious, in which cases the offense is a felony of the third degree.