2C:20-5.
Theft by extortion
A person is guilty of theft by extortion if he purposely and
unlawfully obtains property of another by extortion. A person
extorts if he purposely threatens to:
a. Inflict bodily injury on or physically
confine or restrain anyone or commit any other criminal offense;
b. Accuse anyone of an offense or cause
charges of an offense to be instituted against any person;
c. Expose or publicize any secret or any
asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject any person to
hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair his credit or business
repute;
d. Take or withhold action as an official, or
cause an official to take or withhold action;
e. Bring about or continue a strike, boycott
or other collective action, if the property is not demanded or
received for the benefit of the group in whose interest the
actor purports to act;
f. Testify or provide information or withhold
testimony or information with respect to another's legal claim
or defense; or
g. Inflict any other harm which would not
substantially benefit the actor but which is calculated to materially
harm another person.
It is an affirmative defense to prosecution based
on paragraphs b, c, d or f that the property obtained was
honestly claimed as restitution or indemnification for harm done in
the circumstances or as lawful compensation for property or services.
L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:20-5, eff. Sept. 1,
1979. Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 34, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.
Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey
as a Criminal Trial Attorney
