Understanding Abuse Of A Corpse Charges

24 April 2020
 Categories: Law, Blog

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Abuse of a corpse is not the most common crime to be charged with, but it's certainly one that could be confusing to deal with. Sometimes people who are charged with "abuse of a corpse" don't realize they did anything illegal, whereas others are accused without any sort of evidence to back it up.

Examples of Abuse of a Corpse

Abuse of a corpse may encompass a variety of charges. For instance, one case in the past involved people who were arrested after their funeral home was found to contain decomposing bodies never cared for after people paid for funeral services.

Another example of abuse of a corpse is the abuse of a body after a murder. Somebody may be charged with abuse of a corpse if they try to dismember a body in order to conceal a murder, for instance.

You may also face abuse of a corpse charges if you disturb or damage a human corpse. You can also be charged if you conceal a body, damage, destroy, or buy a corpse. There are several instances in which you could face charges as well, but each state has different regulations. Abuse of a corpse applies to any portion of a corpse as well as the cremated remains of a corpse.

Sometimes people unintentionally abuse bodies. For instance, somebody might steal a hearse with bodies inside. The bodies inside the hearse could begin to decompose or become damaged in the midst of a police pursuit.

Abuse of a Corpse As a Crime

In some states, abuse of a corpse may be a misdemeanor, but it can also be a felony. Additionally, the charge may be associated with other charges that pile on top of each other.

The punishments for abuse of a corpse depend on whether you you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. If you are charged with a felony, you could face several years in prison as well as some hefty fines. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you could spend up to a year in jail and a steep fine.

If several people are involved, there are different charges each person could face.

How to Get Through Criminal Charges

Criminal charges are serious, and you should never discount them. Even if you are not guilty of the crime, you should not approach the case without help. Consult with a felony lawyer today to discuss your case.