§ 2C:29-4 — Compounding

A person commits a crime if he accepts or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit in consideration of refraining from reporting to law enforcement authorities the commission or suspected commission of any offense or information relating to an offense or from seeking prosecution of an offense. A person commits a crime if he confers or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit in consideration of the other person agreeing to refrain from any such reporting or seeking prosecution. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the pecuniary benefit did not exceed an amount which the actor reasonably believed to be due as restitution or indemnification for harm caused by the offense. An offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the second degree. If the thing of value accepted, agreed to be accepted, conferred or agreed to be conferred is any benefit of $200.00 or less, an offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the third degree. L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:29-4, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 58, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.