Two Missouri University Students Arrested For Leaving Cotton Balls Outside of Black Culture Center

Two Missouri University students have been arrested for throwing cotton balls in front of a black culture center in an act that is being investigated as a hate crime.

The students were initially charged with “Tampering in the second degree”, a class D Felony. This is a curious criminal provision that covers a wide array of possible conduct:

Tampering in the second degree.
569.090. 1. A person commits the crime of tampering in the second degree if he or she:

(1) Tampers with property of another for the purpose of causing substantial inconvenience to that person or to another; or

(2) Unlawfully rides in or upon another’s automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat or other motor-propelled vehicle; or

(3) Tampers or makes connection with property of a utility; or

(4) Tampers with, or causes to be tampered with, any meter or other property of an electric, gas, steam or water utility, the effect of which tampering is either:

(a) To prevent the proper measuring of electric, gas, steam or water service; or

(b) To permit the diversion of any electric, gas, steam or water service.

The question is whether leaving cotton balls constitutes a substantial interference. The university paper said that the matter was being investigated as a hate crime, here.

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