§ 14-221.1. Altering, destroying, or stealing evidence of criminal conduct. - North Carolina Statutes

§14‑221.1.  Altering, destroying, or stealing evidence of criminalconduct.

Any person who breaks orenters any building, structure, compartment, vehicle, file, cabinet, drawer, orany other enclosure wherein evidence relevant to any criminal offense or courtproceeding is kept or stored with the purpose of altering, destroying orstealing such evidence; or any person who alters, destroys, or steals anyevidence relevant to any criminal offense or court proceeding shall be punishedas a Class I felon.

As used in this section, theword evidence shall mean any article or document in the possession of a law‑enforcementofficer or officer of the General Court of Justice being retained for thepurpose of being introduced in evidence or having been introduced in evidenceor being preserved as evidence. (1975, c. 806, ss. 1, 2;1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 63, s.1; c. 179, s. 14.)