(A) A person commits the offense of tampering if he or she:
(1) Tampers with property of another for the purpose of causing substantial inconvenience to that person or to another;
(2) Unlawfully rides in or upon another’s automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat, or other motor-propelled vehicle;
(3) Tampers or makes connection with property of a utility; or
(4) Tampers with, or causes to be tampered with, any meter or other property of an electric, gas, steam, or water utility, the effect of which tampering is either:
(a) To prevent the proper measuring of electric, gas, steam, or water service; or
(b) To permit the diversion of any electric, gas, steam, or water service.
(B) In any prosecution under division (A)(4) above, proof that a meter or any other property of a utility has been tampered with, and the person or persons accused received the use or direct benefit of the electric, gas, steam, or water service, with one or more of the effects described in division (A)(4) above, shall be sufficient to support an inference which the trial court may submit to the trier of fact, from which the trier of fact may conclude that there has been a violation of such division by the person or persons who use or receive the direct benefit of the electric, gas, steam, or water service.
(Prior Code, § 210.290) Penalty, see § 130.999
Editor’s note:
Under certain circumstances this offense can be a felony under state law