2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 45. Crimes › Chapter 6. Offenses Against Property › Part 3. Theft and Related Offenses › 45-6-317. Deceptive practices

45-6-317. Deceptive practices.
(1) A person commits the offense of deceptive practices when the person purposely or knowingly:
(a) causes another, by deception or threat, to execute a document disposing of property or a document by which a pecuniary obligation is incurred;
(b) makes or directs another to make a false or deceptive statement addressed to the public or any person for the purpose of promoting or procuring the sale of property or services;
(c) makes or directs another to make a false or deceptive statement to any person respecting the financial condition of the person making or directing another to make the statement for the purpose of procuring a loan or credit or accepts a false or deceptive statement from any person who is attempting to procure a loan or credit regarding that person's financial condition; or
(d) obtains or attempts to obtain property, labor, or services by any of the following means:
(i) using a credit card that was issued to another without the other's consent;
(ii) using a credit card that has been revoked or canceled;
(iii) using a credit card that has been falsely made, counterfeited, or altered in any material respect;
(iv) using the pretended number or description of a fictitious credit card; or
(v) using a credit card that has expired when the credit card clearly indicates the expiration date.
(2) (a) A person convicted of the offense of deceptive practices if the value of any property, labor, or services obtained or attempted to be obtained does not exceed $1,500 in value shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500. A person convicted of a second offense shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both. A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a term of not less than 5 days or more than 1 year and may be fined an amount not to exceed $500.
(b) A person convicted of the offense of deceptive practices if the value of any property, labor, or services obtained or attempted to be obtained exceeds $1,500 in value and does not exceed $5,000 in value shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 3 years, or both. A person convicted of a second offense shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years, or both. A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 5 years and may be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000.
(c) A person convicted of the offense of deceptive practices if the value of any property, labor, or services obtained or attempted to be obtained exceeds $5,000 in value or as part of a common scheme shall be fined an amount not to exceed $10,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.
History: En. 94-6-307 by Sec. 1, Ch. 513, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 23, Ch. 359, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 94-6-307; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 198, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 581, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 616, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 397, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 473, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 321, L. 2017.