565.227. Stalking, second degree, penalty.
It’s illegal to repeatedly follow or bother someone to scare or upset them.
This law makes it a crime to purposely disturb or follow someone again and again to cause fear or emotional stress.
1. A person commits second-degree stalking if they intentionally follow or disturb someone over time to upset or scare them.
2. This law does not apply to law enforcement officers doing their jobs during legal investigations.
3. Police can arrest someone without a warrant if they believe the person broke this law.
4. Second-degree stalking is a class A misdemeanor, unless:
- The person has been convicted of stalking before (in Missouri or another state), or
- The victim is a law enforcement officer or close family member of one and was specifically targeted.
In those cases, it becomes a class E felony.
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