578.510. Misuse of military medals, penalty--misrepresentation of awarding of military medals, penalty--fraudulent use of the title of veteran, penalty.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

578.510. Misuse of military medals, penalty--misrepresentation of awarding of military medals, penalty--fraudulent use of the title of veteran, penalty.

Misuse of military medals, penalty--misrepresentation of awarding ofmilitary medals, penalty--fraudulent use of the title of veteran,penalty.

578.510. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the"Stolen Valor Act of 2007".

2. Any person who, with the intent to misrepresent himself or herselfas a veteran or medal recipient, knowingly wears, purchases, attempts topurchase, solicits for purchase, mails, ships, imports, exports, producesblank certificates of receipt for, manufactures, sells, attempts to sell,advertises for sale, trades, barters, or exchanges for anything of valueany decoration or medal authorized under chapter 41, RSMo, or by theCongress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the servicemedals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon,button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration, or medal, or anycolorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulationspromulgated under law, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any second orsubsequent violation of this subsection is a class D felony.

3. Any person who misrepresents himself or herself, verbally or inwriting, to have been awarded any decoration or medal authorized underchapter 41, RSMo, or by Congress for the armed forces of the United States,any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces,the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration, or medal, orany colorable imitation of such item is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.Any second or subsequent violation of this subsection is a class D felony.

4. Any person who fraudulently uses the title of "veteran", asdefined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or itssuccessor agency, in order to obtain personal benefit, monetary orotherwise, and such person does not have verifiable proof of his or herstatus as a veteran is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any second orsubsequent violation of this subsection is a class D felony.

5. If a decoration or medal involved in an offense described insubsections 2 to 4 of this section is a distinguished-service cross awardedunder Section 3742 of Title 10 of the United States Code, a Navy Crossawarded under Section 6242 of Title 10 of the United States Code, an AirForce Cross awarded under Section 8742 of Section 10 of the United StatesCode, a Silver Star awarded under Section 3742, 6244, or 8746 of Title 10of the United States Code, a Purple Heart awarded under Section 1129 ofTitle 10 of the United States Code, or any replacement or duplicate medalfor such medal as authorized by law, in lieu of the penalty provided insubsection 2, 3, or 4 of this section, the offender is guilty of a class Dfelony.

6. If a decoration or medal involved in an offense described insubsections 2 to 4 of this section is the Medal of Honor awarded underSection 1560 of Title 38 of the United States Code, the offender is guiltyof a class C felony.