Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 11.56.540 (2026)
Tampering with a witness in the first degree
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 11.56.540. Tampering with a witness in the first degree.
(a) A person commits the crime of tampering with a witness in the first degree if the person knowingly induces or attempts to induce a witness to
(1) testify falsely, offer misleading testimony, or unlawfully withhold testimony in an official proceeding; or
(2) be absent from a judicial proceeding to which the witness has been summoned.
(b) Tampering with a witness in the first degree is a class C felony.
(a) A person commits the crime of tampering with a witness in the first degree if the person knowingly induces or attempts to induce a witness to
(1) testify falsely, offer misleading testimony, or unlawfully withhold testimony in an official proceeding; or
(2) be absent from a judicial proceeding to which the witness has been summoned.
(b) Tampering with a witness in the first degree is a class C felony.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1986–2023 · leading case: Rantala v. State, 216 P.3d 550 (Alaska Ct. App. 2009).
Rantala v. State, 216 P.3d 550 (Alaska Ct. App. 2009). “The legislative commentary to AS 11.56.540 addresses the related issue of whether it is witness tampering to try to convince a prospective witness to avoid the service of a subpoena (so that the witness will not have to testify).”
Douglas v. State, 214 P.3d 312 (Alaska 2009). “Because, by excluding Douglas from his entire trial and refusing to let him testify in person, the trial court violated the confrontation and due process clauses of the United States and Alaska constitutions, I respectfully dissent.”
Baker v. State, 22 P.3d 493 (Alaska Ct. App. 2001). “Under AS 11.56.540(a), a person commits first-degree witness tampering if they knowingly induce or attempt to induce a witness to give false or misleading testimony in an official proceeding, or to unlawfully withhold testimony in an official proceeding.”
State v. Jones, 750 P.2d 828 (Alaska Ct. App. 1988). “Under such circumstances, their conduct would have constituted tampering with a witness in the first degree, in violation of AS 11.56.540: (a) A person commits the crime of tampering with a witness in the first degree if the person knowingly induces or attempts to induce a…”
Crawford v. State, 337 P.3d 4 (Alaska Ct. App. 2014). “considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence", and Alaska Evidence Rule 611(a), which requires judges to *25 "exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to (1) make…”
State v. Echols, 793 P.2d 1066 (Alaska Ct. App. 1990). “agreed to plead no contest to one count of witness tampering in violation of AS 11.56.540(a)(1); the state agreed to dismiss the remaining charges at the time of R.”
Barber v. State, 386 P.3d 1254 (Alaska Ct. App. 2016). “Why we reverse Barber’s conviction for mtness tampering Barber was convicted of witness tampering under AS 11.56.540(a)(1), which declares that it is unlawful to knowingly induce or attempt to induce a witness to “testify falsely, offer misleading testimony, or unlawfully…”
State v. Gray, 258 P.3d 242 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2011). “Code § 13A-10-124 ("attempts to induce”); Alaska Stat. § 11.56.540 ("knowingly induces or attempts to induce"); Colo.”
Douglas v. State, 166 P.3d 61 (Alaska Ct. App. 2007). “Based on this conduct, Douglas was convict, ed of both witness tampering, AS 11.56.540(a)(1), and first-degree unlawful contact, AS 11.”
Whitlow v. State, 719 P.2d 267 (Alaska Ct. App. 1986). “-436(a)(3)(B), and of tampering with a witness in the first degree, AS 11.56.540(a)(2). Judge Victor D. Carlson sentenced Whitlow to eight years’ imprisonment on the sexual abuse conviction.”
Cornwall v. State, 915 P.2d 640 (Alaska Ct. App. 1996). “-510(a)(l) (interference with official *644 proceedings) and AS 11.56.540(a)(2) (witness tampering), and obtained another warrant for her arrest (this time, as a criminal defendant).”
Leonard J. Hoffman, State of Alaska, 950 P.2d 141 (Alaska Ct. App. 1997). “Hoffman was convicted by a jury of four counts of tampering with a witness in the first degree, AS 11.56.540(a)(1) or (2) & AS 11.16.110(2)(A) or (B), four counts of interference with an official proceeding, AS 11.”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.56.540(a) — 1 case
Baker v. State, 22 P.3d 493 (Alaska Ct. App. 2001). “Under AS 11.56.540(a), a person commits first-degree witness tampering if they knowingly induce or attempt to induce a witness to give false or misleading testimony in an official proceeding, or to unlawfully withhold testimony in an official proceeding.”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.56.540(a)(1) — 12 cases
Rantala v. State, 216 P.3d 550 (Alaska Ct. App. 2009). “The legislative commentary to AS 11.56.540 addresses the related issue of whether it is witness tampering to try to convince a prospective witness to avoid the service of a subpoena (so that the witness will not have to testify).”
Douglas v. State, 214 P.3d 312 (Alaska 2009). “Because, by excluding Douglas from his entire trial and refusing to let him testify in person, the trial court violated the confrontation and due process clauses of the United States and Alaska constitutions, I respectfully dissent.”
State v. Echols, 793 P.2d 1066 (Alaska Ct. App. 1990). “agreed to plead no contest to one count of witness tampering in violation of AS 11.56.540(a)(1); the state agreed to dismiss the remaining charges at the time of R.”
Barber v. State, 386 P.3d 1254 (Alaska Ct. App. 2016). “Why we reverse Barber’s conviction for mtness tampering Barber was convicted of witness tampering under AS 11.56.540(a)(1), which declares that it is unlawful to knowingly induce or attempt to induce a witness to “testify falsely, offer misleading testimony, or unlawfully…”
Douglas v. State, 166 P.3d 61 (Alaska Ct. App. 2007). “Based on this conduct, Douglas was convict, ed of both witness tampering, AS 11.56.540(a)(1), and first-degree unlawful contact, AS 11.”
— Alaska Stat. § 11.56.540(a)(2) — 6 cases
Crawford v. State, 337 P.3d 4 (Alaska Ct. App. 2014). “considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence", and Alaska Evidence Rule 611(a), which requires judges to *25 "exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to (1) make…”
Cornwall v. State, 915 P.2d 640 (Alaska Ct. App. 1996). “-510(a)(l) (interference with official *644 proceedings) and AS 11.56.540(a)(2) (witness tampering), and obtained another warrant for her arrest (this time, as a criminal defendant).”
Whitlow v. State, 719 P.2d 267 (Alaska Ct. App. 1986). “-436(a)(3)(B), and of tampering with a witness in the first degree, AS 11.56.540(a)(2). Judge Victor D. Carlson sentenced Whitlow to eight years’ imprisonment on the sexual abuse conviction.”
Zachariah Micahel Paukan v. State of Alaska, 536 P.3d 1216 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023).
Cim Joel Blair v. State of Alaska, Dep't of Corr. (Alaska 2020).
— Alaska Stat. § 11.56.540(b) — 1 case
Whitlow v. State, 719 P.2d 267 (Alaska Ct. App. 1986). “-436(a)(3)(B), and of tampering with a witness in the first degree, AS 11.56.540(a)(2). Judge Victor D. Carlson sentenced Whitlow to eight years’ imprisonment on the sexual abuse conviction.”
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