Intimidación a testigos en el estado de Washington

Explicación Simple

Intimidar a un testigo significa amenazar a alguien que podría hablar en un juicio. Esto es ilegal porque puede afectar la verdad y la justicia.

Es como si alguien tratara de asustar a un jugador del equipo contrario para que no hable sobre una falta en un partido. Si logra asustarlo, el juego se vuelve injusto.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan es testigo de un robo y su vecino, Carlos, lo amenaza para que no hable con la policía. Carlos quiere que Juan no cuente lo que vio porque le da miedo que lo arresten. Esto es intimidación a testigos.

Penalidades

Intimidar a un testigo es un delito de clase B, lo que puede llevar a penas de prisión y multas.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9A.72.110 - Intimidating a witness (1) A person is guilty of intimidating a witness if a person, by use of a threat against a current or prospective witness, attempts to:(a) Influence the testimony of that person;(b) Induce that person to elude legal process summoning him or her to testify;(c) Induce that person to absent himself or herself from such proceedings; or(d) Induce that person not to report the information relevant to a criminal investigation or the abuse or neglect of a minor child, not to have the crime or the abuse or neglect of a minor child prosecuted, or not to give truthful or complete information relevant to a criminal investigation or the abuse or neglect of a minor child.(2) A person also is guilty of intimidating a witness if the person directs a threat to a former witness because of the witness's role in an official proceeding.(3) As used in this section:(a) "Threat" means:(i) To communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent immediately to use force against any person who is present at the time; or(ii) Threat as defined in *RCW 9A.04.110(25).(b) "Current or prospective witness" means:(i) A person endorsed as a witness in an official proceeding;(ii) A person whom the actor believes may be called as a witness in any official proceeding; or(iii) A person whom the actor has reason to believe may have information relevant to a criminal investigation or the abuse or neglect of a minor child.(c) "Former witness" means:(i) A person who testified in an official proceeding;(ii) A person who was endorsed as a witness in an official proceeding;(iii) A person whom the actor knew or believed may have been called as a witness if a hearing or trial had been held; or(iv) A person whom the actor knew or believed may have provided information related to a cr