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For instance, if the defendant pays someone to contact a witness or is involved in planning a threat or attack on a witness, he could be charged with witness intimidation or conspiracy to commit the crime. If the defendant is involved in witness tampering committed by another person, he also can be charged with a crime. If a relative or friend of the defendant threatens a witness or someone involved in or supporting the prosecution tries to bribe a witness, for example, both have committed witness tampering. If a person threatens or tries to influence a witness's testimony on behalf of the defendant or the prosecution, he has committed a crime. The idea of witness tampering or intimidation probably brings to mind a defendant in a criminal case threatening a witness, but the defendant is not the only person who can be accused of or commit this crime. Who Can Be Accused of Witness Tampering or Intimidation A witness also could be threatened with harm to his business or reputation.

An employer could threaten an employee's job or promise a promotion if the employee will testify in a certain way or refuse to testify. The other statutes require that the person accused actually threatened or intimidated the witness.Ĭoercion and intimidation can involve threats other than physical violence or property damage. Under the first type of statute, simply asking a witness to testify in your favor constitutes witness tampering. Others require a use of force, threat of force, or use of intimidation or coercion. Some states' statutes criminalize intentionally influencing a witness by any means. preventing a witness from attending a legal proceeding, such as a court hearing or deposition.threatening the witness's family members or loved ones, and.threatening a witness with physical violence or property damage.offering a witness a bribe (money, material goods, or some other benefit).

asking a witness to testify in a certain way, to lie, to not testify, to not report a crime or to not cooperate with police.Intimidating or tampering with a witness involves trying to get a witness to lie, say certain things under oath, alter or destroy evidence, or not testify or cooperate with authorities at all. Interfering with a witness's testimony or cooperation in a criminal case is a criminal act that can be misdemeanor or a felony.