Vermont § 1702 - Criminal threatening

§ 1702. Criminal threatening

• (a) A person shall not by words or conduct knowingly: (1) threaten another person or a group of particular persons; and (2) as a result of the threat, place the other person in reasonable apprehension of death,
  serious bodily injury, or sexual assault to the other person, a person in the group
  of particular persons, or any other person. (b) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be imprisoned not more
  than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both. (c) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section with the intent to prevent another
  person from reporting to the Department for Children and Families the suspected abuse
  or neglect of a child shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more
  than $2,000.00, or both. (d) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section by making a threat that places
  any person in reasonable apprehension that death, serious bodily injury, or sexual
  assault will occur at a public or independent school; postsecondary education institution;
  public library; place of worship; polling place during election activities; the Vermont
  State House; or any federal, State, or municipal building shall be imprisoned not
  more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both. (e) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section with the intent to terrify, intimidate,
  or unlawfully influence a person to prevent that person from complying with State
  laws or rules, State court or administrative orders, or State executive orders shall
  be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both. (f) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section with the intent to terrify, intimidate,
  or unlawfully influence the conduct of a candidate for public office, a public servant,
  an election official, or a public employee in any decision, opinion, recommendation,
  vote, or other exercise of discretion taken in capacity as a candidate for public
  office, a public servant, an election official, or a public employee, or with the
  intent to retaliate against a candidate for public office, a public servant, an election
  official, or a public employee for any previous action taken in capacity as a candidate
  for public office, a public servant, an election official, or a public employee, shall
  be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both. (g) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section with the intent to terrify or
  intimidate a health care worker or an emergency medical personnel member because of
  the worker’s or member’s action or inaction taken in the provision of health care
  services shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00,
  or both. (h) As used in this section: (1) “Serious bodily injury” has the same meaning as in section 1021 of this title. (2) “Threat” and “threaten” do not include constitutionally protected activity. (3) “Candidate” has the same meaning as in 17 V.S.A. § 2103. (4) “Election official” has the same meaning as in 17 V.S.A. § 2455. (5) “Public employee” means a classified employee within the Legislative, Executive, or
  Judicial Branch of the State and any of its political subdivisions and any employee
  within a county or local government and any of the county’s or local government’s
  political subdivisions. (6) “Public servant” has the same meaning as in 17 V.S.A. § 2103. (7) “Polling place” has the same meaning as described in 17 V.S.A. chapter 51, subchapter 4. (8) “Sexual assault” has the same meaning as sexual assault as described in section 3252 of this title. (9) “Emergency medical personnel” has the same meaning as in 24 V.S.A. § 2651(6). (10) “Health care services” means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure,
  or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease. (11) “Health care worker” has the same meaning as in section 1028 of this title. (12) “Public library” means a public library as defined in 22 V.S.A. § 101. (i) Any person charged under this section who is younger than the age identified in 33 V.S.A. § 5201(d) shall be subject to a juvenile proceeding. (Added 2015, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 6b; amended 2021, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 3, 2022; 2023, No. 24, § 2, eff. May 30, 2023; 2023, No. 150 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. July 1, 2024.)