§ 5-38-202 - Causing a catastrophe -- Threatening to cause a catastrophe. - Arkansas Statutes

5-38-202. Causing a catastrophe -- Threatening to cause a catastrophe.

(a) (1) A person commits the offense of causing a catastrophe if he or she knowingly causes a catastrophe by:

(A) Explosion;

(B) Fire;

(C) Flood;

(D) Avalanche;

(E) Collapse of building;

(F) Distribution of a poison, radioactive material, bacteria, or virus; or

(G) Another dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance.

(2) Causing a catastrophe is a Class Y felony.

(b) (1) A person commits the offense of threatening to cause a catastrophe if he or she:

(A) Contacts any person, company, corporation, or governmental entity; and

(B) Threatens to cause a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, avalanche, collapse of building, release of a poison, radioactive material, bacteria, or virus, or another dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance, unless:

(i) Paid a sum of money or any type of property; or

(ii) The person, company, corporation, or governmental entity performs a requested act.

(2) Threatening to cause a catastrophe is a Class D felony.

(c) In addition to any other restitution ordered under 5-4-205, a court may order that a person who violates this section make restitution to the state or any political subdivision of the state for any cleanup costs associated with the commission of the offense.