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New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 145.22 — Cemetery desecration in the second degree

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 145: Criminal Mischief and Related Offenses, New York Penal Law.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 145.22

Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.

N.Y. Penal Law § 145.22Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
145.22 Cemetery desecration in the second degree. A person is guilty of cemetery desecration in the second degree when: (a) with intent to damage property of another person, and having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he has such right, he damages any real or personal property maintained as a cemetery plot, grave, burial place or other place of interment of human remains; or (b) with intent to steal personal property, he steals personal property which is located at a cemetery plot, grave, burial place or other place of interment of human remains and which property is owned by the person or organization which maintains or owns such place or the estate, next-of-kin or representatives of the deceased person interred there. Cemetery desecration in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What class of misdemeanor is cemetery desecration in the second degree in New York?

Cemetery desecration in the second degree is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 145.22.

Which New York statute covers cemetery desecration in the second degree?

Cemetery desecration in the second degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 145.22 (Cemetery desecration in the second degree).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.