ORS 162.325
Hindering prosecution


(1)

A person commits the crime of hindering prosecution if, with intent to hinder the apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of a person who has committed a crime punishable as a felony, or with the intent to assist a person who has committed a crime punishable as a felony in profiting or benefiting from the commission of the crime, the person:

(a)

Harbors or conceals such person; or

(b)

Warns such person of impending discovery or apprehension; or

(c)

Provides or aids in providing such person with money, transportation, weapon, disguise or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension; or

(d)

Prevents or obstructs, by means of force, intimidation or deception, anyone from performing an act which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person; or

(e)

Suppresses by any act of concealment, alteration or destruction physical evidence which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person; or

(f)

Aids such person in securing or protecting the proceeds of the crime.

(2)

Hindering prosecution is a Class C felony. [1971 c.743 §207]

Source: Section 162.325 — Hindering prosecution, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors162.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Under former similar statute (ORS 161.230)

Where court may punish crime committed by principal either as felony or by imposing lesser punishment resulting in classification as misdemeanor, election to punish as misdemeanor does not affect status of person charged with hindering prosecution. State v. Shay, 8 Or App 360, 493 P2d 737 (1972), Sup Ct review denied

The mere denial of knowledge of whereabouts of offender did not amount to accessorial conduct; there must also have been evidence from which jury could infer that actor told lie with intent to aid offender and that lie was, under existing circumstances, likely to aid offender to escape arrest or punishment. State v. Clifford, 263 Or 436, 502 P2d 1371 (1972)

In general

Information, which merely alleged that defendant had hindered prosecution by withholding eyewitness testimony in order to protect himself, was insufficient to charge defendant under this section, and thus arrest warrant on hindering prosecution charge was invalidly issued. State v. Christian, 35 Or App 339, 581 P2d 132 (1978), Sup Ct review denied

Person suspected of crime who fails to turn himself in is not therefore subject to prosecution under this section for hindering his own prosecution. State v. Christian, 35 Or App 339, 581 P2d 132 (1978), Sup Ct review denied

Where police went to defendant’s residence to arrest robbery suspect allegedly staying there, defendant produced no identification but gave alias used by suspect, and police took defendant into custody pursuant to arrest warrant but were uncertain as to whether she was in fact the suspect, police had probable cause to conduct search to determine if suspect named in warrant was within residence; thus, evidence resulting from search, i.e., suspect whom defendant was charged under this section with concealing, was admissible. State v. Jordan, 36 Or App 45, 583 P2d 1161 (1978), aff’d 288 Or 391, 605 P2d 646 (1980)

Defendant’s denials, which hindered his co-defendant’s prosecution but served his own interest against self-incrimination, could not form the basis for conviction for hindering prosecution. State v. Pugh, 55 Or App 305, 637 P2d 1325 (1981)

Juvenile whose prosecution is hindered may commit “crime” punishable as felony regardless of whether juvenile is subject to criminal prosecution, conviction or punishment. State ex rel Juvenile Dept. v. Fitch, 192 Or App 56, 84 P3d 190 (2004), Sup Ct review denied

Act of omission in failing to respond to inquiries by law enforcement authorities may constitute harboring or concealing of fugitive. State v. Turley, 202 Or App 40, 120 P3d 1229 (2005), Sup Ct review denied; distinguished in State v. Hutchins, 281 Or App 495, 383 P3d 399 (2016)

Where concealment, alteration or destruction of physical evidence does not affect discovery or apprehension of person, but may prevent discovery that person has committed crime, then concealment, alteration or destruction does not constitute hindering prosecution. State v. Werdell, 340 Or 590, 136 P3d 17 (2006)

Person commits crime of hindering prosecution if person hinders apprehension of juvenile where juvenile conduct constitutes crime punishable as felony in criminal proceeding. State v. McCullough, 347 Or 350, 220 P3d 1182 (2009)

To prove that defendant hindered prosecution by “conceal[ing]” a “person” under subsection (1)(a) of this section, state must present evidence from which jury could reasonably conclude that defendant concealed that person’s physical presence and something more than attempting to obscure that person’s identity through deception; therefore, where defendant and another person both spoke to law enforcement officers from inside building and defendant subsequently failed to provide officers with information about identity of other person or to open door, state did not present sufficient evidence that defendant concealed person who was a fugitive. State v. Hutchins, 281 Or App 495, 383 P3d 399 (2016)

Because guest who is sheltered and received by owner or occupant of property cannot, by same action, shelter and receive host, guest cannot harbor fugitive-host under this section; thus, jury could not permissibly find that defendant harbored fugitive under this section where defendant was guest in shed that was fugitive’s own abode. State v. Hutchins, 281 Or App 495, 383 P3d 399 (2016)

Because “conceal” as used in section requires conduct that hides person who committed crime punishable as felony from ordinary observation, defendant’s false statements to police did not constitute concealment. State v. Carpenter, 365 Or 488, 446 P3d 1273 (2019)

162.005
Definitions for ORS 162.005 to 162.425
162.015
Bribe giving
162.025
Bribe receiving
162.035
Bribery defenses
162.055
Definitions for ORS 162.055 to 162.425
162.065
Perjury
162.075
False swearing
162.085
Unsworn falsification
162.095
Defenses to perjury and false swearing limited
162.105
Retraction as defense
162.115
Corroboration of falsity required
162.117
Public investment fraud
162.118
Illegal conduct by State Treasury not a defense
162.119
Public fraud as racketeering activity
162.121
Construction of ORS 162.117 to 162.121
162.135
Definitions for ORS 162.135 to 162.205
162.145
Escape in the third degree
162.155
Escape in the second degree
162.165
Escape in the first degree
162.175
Unauthorized departure
162.185
Supplying contraband
162.193
Failure to appear
162.195
Failure to appear in the second degree
162.205
Failure to appear in the first degree
162.225
Definitions for ORS 162.225 to 162.375
162.235
Obstructing governmental or judicial administration
162.245
Refusing to assist a peace officer
162.247
Interfering with a peace officer or parole and probation officer
162.255
Refusing to assist in fire-fighting operations
162.257
Interfering with a firefighter or emergency medical services provider
162.265
Bribing a witness
162.275
Bribe receiving by a witness
162.285
Tampering with a witness
162.295
Tampering with physical evidence
162.305
Tampering with public records
162.315
Resisting arrest
162.325
Hindering prosecution
162.335
Compounding
162.345
Defenses for hindering or compounding limited
162.355
Simulating legal process
162.365
Criminal impersonation of a public servant
162.367
Criminal impersonation of a peace officer
162.369
Possession of a false law enforcement identification card
162.375
Initiating a false report
162.385
Giving false information to a peace officer in connection with a citation or warrant
162.405
Official misconduct in the second degree
162.415
Official misconduct in the first degree
162.425
Misuse of confidential information
162.455
Interfering with legislative operations
162.465
Unlawful legislative lobbying
Green check means up to date. Up to date