Manipulación de Testigos y Jurados en Washington

Explicación Simple

Manipular a un testigo significa intentar hacer que mienta o que no hable en un juicio. Amenazar a un jurado para que vote de cierta manera también es un delito grave. Ambas acciones pueden tener serias consecuencias legales.

Es como si en un partido de fútbol, un jugador intentara sobornar al árbitro para que no pitara una falta. Esto no solo es injusto, sino que también puede llevar a sanciones para el jugador.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan está siendo investigado por un robo. Su amigo Pedro le dice que no hable con la policía, o que mienta si lo hace. Esto es manipulación de testigos y podría meter a Pedro en problemas con la ley.

Penalidades

La manipulación de testigos es un delito de clase C, la intimidación de jurados es un delito de clase B, y la manipulación de jurados es un delito menor grave.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9A.72.120 - Tampering with a witness (1) A person is guilty of tampering with a witness if he or she attempts to induce a witness or person he or she has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in any official proceeding or a person whom he or she has reason to believe may have information relevant to a criminal investigation or the abuse or neglect of a minor child to:(a) Testify falsely or, without right or privilege to do so, to withhold any testimony; or(b) Absent himself or herself from such proceedings; or(c) Withhold from a law enforcement agency information which he or she has relevant to a criminal investigation or the abuse or neglect of a minor child to the agency.(2) Tampering with a witness is a class C felony. RCW 9A.72.130 - Intimidating a juror (1) A person is guilty of intimidating a juror if a person directs a threat to a former juror because of the juror's vote, opinion, decision, or other official action as a juror, or if, by use of a threat, he attempts to influence a juror's vote, opinion, decision, or other official action as a juror.(2) "Threat" as used in this section means(a) to communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent immediately to use force against any person who is present at the time; or(b) threats as defined in *RCW 9A.04.110(25).(3) Intimidating a juror is a class B felony. RCW 9A.72.140 - Jury tampering (1) A person is guilty of jury tampering if with intent to influence a juror's vote, opinion, decision, or other official action in a case, he attempts to communicate directly or indirectly with a juror other than as part of the proceedings in the trial of the case.(2) Jury tampering is a gross misdemeanor.