Louisiana Revised Statutes & Codes

La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27 (2026)

A. Any person who, having a specific intent to commit a crime, does or omits an act for the purpose of and tending directly toward the accomplishing of his object is guilty of an attempt to commit the offense intended; and it shall be immaterial whether, under the circumstances, he would have actually accomplished his purpose.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§27. Attempt; penalties; attempt on peace officer; enhanced penalties

A. Any person who, having a specific intent to commit a crime, does or omits an act for the purpose of and tending directly toward the accomplishing of his object is guilty of an attempt to commit the offense intended; and it shall be immaterial whether, under the circumstances, he would have actually accomplished his purpose.

B.(1) Mere preparation to commit a crime shall not be sufficient to constitute an attempt; but lying in wait with a dangerous weapon with the intent to commit a crime, or searching for the intended victim with a dangerous weapon with the intent to commit a crime, shall be sufficient to constitute an attempt to commit the offense intended.

(2) Further, the placing of any combustible or explosive substance in or near any structure, watercraft, movable, or forestland, with the specific intent eventually to set fire to or to damage by explosive substance such structure, watercraft, movable, or forestland, shall be sufficient to constitute an attempt to commit the crime of arson as defined in R.S. 14:51 through 53.

C. An attempt is a separate but lesser grade of the intended crime; and any person may be convicted of an attempt to commit a crime, although it appears on the trial that the crime intended or attempted was actually perpetrated by such person in pursuance of such attempt.

D. Whoever attempts to commit any crime shall be punished as follows:

(1)(a) If the offense so attempted is punishable by death or life imprisonment, he shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than ten nor more than fifty years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

(b) If the offense so attempted is punishable by death or life imprisonment and is attempted against an individual who is a peace officer engaged in the performance of his lawful duty, he shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than twenty nor more than fifty years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

(2)(a) If the offense so attempted is theft or receiving stolen things, and is not punishable as a felony, he shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

(b) If the offense so attempted is receiving stolen things, and is punishable as a felony, he shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(c)(i) If the offense so attempted is theft of an amount not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars, he shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(ii) If the offense so attempted is theft of an amount over twenty-five thousand dollars, he shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars, imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.

(3) In all other cases he shall be fined or imprisoned or both, in the same manner as for the offense attempted; such fine or imprisonment shall not exceed one-half of the largest fine, or one-half of the longest term of imprisonment prescribed for the offense so attempted, or both.

E. For the purposes of Subsection D of this Section, the term "peace officer" means any peace officer, as defined in R.S. 40:2402.

Amended by Acts 1970, No. 471, §1; Acts 1975, No. 132, §1; Acts 1989, No. 609, §1; Acts 1995, No. 988, §1; Acts 2003, No. 166, §1; Acts 2003, No. 745, §1; Acts 2010, No. 531, §1, eff. August 15, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 240, §1, eff. August 1, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 255, §1, eff. August 1, 2014.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2,248 cases (121 in the last 5 years), 1953–2026 · leading case: State v. Jones, 74 So. 3d 197 (La. 2011).

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State v. Jones, 74 So. 3d 197 (La. 2011). · cites it 22× “I cannot join the majority opinion finding that an oral comment, unaccompanied by any overt act, is legally sufficient to support a conviction of criminal attempt under La.Rev.Stat. § 14:27. Defendant's sexually charged comments were unquestionably crude, offensive, and wholly…”

State v. Odle, 834 So. 2d 483 (La. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 24× “R.S. 14:27 or La. R.S. 40:979. Odle was sentenced to eighteen years at hard labor and Shaw was sentenced to twenty years at hard labor.”

State v. Ordodi, 946 So. 2d 654 (La. 2006). · cites it 6× “R.S. 14:27. After trial, the jury found the defendant guilty on both counts.”

State v. PORTIE, 22 So. 3d 213 (La. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 25× “R.S. 14:27 sets forth the law as to attempted offenses, and states in pertinent part: A.”

State v. Ott, 102 So. 3d 944 (La. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 12× “1 (Count One); one count of attempted armed robbery while armed with a firearm, a violation of LSA-R.S. 14:27 and 14:64.3 (Count Two); and four counts of armed robbery while armed with a firearm, a violation of LSA-R.”

State v. Moore, 640 So. 2d 561 (La. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 10× “Defendant appeals his conviction for attempted manslaughter, a violation of LSA-R.S. 14:27 and 14:31. After a review of the record, we find no reversible error and affirm defendant's conviction and sentence.”

State Ex Rel. Sullivan v. Maggio, 432 So. 2d 854 (La. 1983). · cites it 12× “R.S. 14:27, which, in pertinent part, provides, * * * * * * D.”

State v. Bradstreet, 196 So. 3d 876 (La. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 7× “R.S. 14:27 and 14:30.1- (counts one and two) and one count of aggravated criminal damage to property in violation of La.”

State v. Holmes, 5 So. 3d 42 (La. 2008). · cites it 4× “La.Rev.Stat. § 14:27. [27] Hearsay is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the present trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.”

State v. Moore, 215 So. 3d 951 (La. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 7× “R.S. 14:27 and 14:42.1. Defendant argues in his brief that the degree of force he employed against H.”

State v. Garcie, 242 So. 3d 1279 (La. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 4× “R.S. 14:27, in that he attempted to commit first-degree murder of Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office ("JPSO") Deputies Jason Loerwald, *1282 Jerome Green, Todd Bordelon and Michael Jones; (2) violated La.”

State v. Hickman, 194 So. 3d 1160 (La. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “R.S. 14:27, 14:3o.!. 1 Defendant appeared for arraignment on April 24, 2013 and entered a plea of not guilty.”

Show all 2,248 citing cases →

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(1)(a) — 1 case

State of Louisiana v. Anthony Latrell Willis (La. Ct. App. 2024).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(3) — 5 cases

State v. McGee, 894 So. 2d 398 (La. Ct. App. 2005).

State v. Arnold, 367 So. 2d 324 (La. 1979).

State v. Garner, 115 So. 2d 855 (La. 1959).

State v. McGregor, 244 So. 2d 846 (La. 1971).

State v. Deweese, 128 So. 3d 1186 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(30) — 16 cases

State v. Buttner, 411 So. 2d 35 (La. 1982).

State v. Brown, 853 So. 2d 8 (La. Ct. App. 2003).

State v. Buttner, 489 So. 2d 970 (La. Ct. App. 1986).

State v. Rideau, 947 So. 2d 127 (La. Ct. App. 2006).

State v. Jones, 744 So. 2d 165 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(30)(A)(2) — 1 case

State v. Guss, 775 So. 2d 622 (La. Ct. App. 2000).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(30)(A)(3) — 1 case

State v. Bordenave, 660 So. 2d 1207 (La. Ct. App. 1995).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(31) — 3 cases

State v. Youngblood, 274 So. 3d 716 (La. Ct. App. 2019).

State of Louisiana Versus Ron C. Youngblood (La. Ct. App. 2019).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(42) — 5 cases

State v. Jones, 744 So. 2d 165 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

State v. Ballett, 756 So. 2d 587 (La. Ct. App. 2000).

State v. Ford, 867 So. 2d 835 (La. Ct. App. 2004).

State of Louisiana v. D. D. (La. Ct. App. 2019).

State v. Thomas, 926 So. 2d 578 (La. Ct. App. 2006).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(45) — 1 case

State v. Brock, 767 So. 2d 130 (La. Ct. App. 2000).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(52) — 1 case

State v. Simmons, 983 So. 2d 200 (La. Ct. App. 2008).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(62) — 4 cases

State v. Douglas, 952 So. 2d 793 (La. Ct. App. 2007).

State v. James, 942 So. 2d 569 (La. Ct. App. 2006).

State v. Bass, 767 So. 2d 772 (La. Ct. App. 2000).

State v. Brown, 793 So. 2d 422 (La. Ct. App. 2001).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(64) — 10 cases

State v. Johnson, 833 So. 2d 508 (La. Ct. App. 2003).

State v. Tapp, 788 So. 2d 1215 (La. Ct. App. 2001).

State v. Stanton, 929 So. 2d 137 (La. Ct. App. 2006).

State v. Hawthorne, 772 So. 2d 924 (La. Ct. App. 2000).

State v. Bannister, 726 So. 2d 1135 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(67) — 3 cases

State in Interest of Batiste, 359 So. 2d 1077 (La. Ct. App. 1978).

State v. Murray, 436 So. 2d 775 (La. Ct. App. 1983).

State v. Coleman, 830 So. 2d 341 (La. Ct. App. 2002).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(95) — 1 case

State v. Mark, 732 So. 2d 110 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(A) — 212 cases

State v. Melton, 821 S.E.2d 424 (N.C. 2018).

State v. Ordodi, 946 So. 2d 654 (La. 2006). “R.S. 14:27. After trial, the jury found the defendant guilty on both counts.”

State v. Draughn, 950 So. 2d 583 (La. 2007).

State v. Smith, 645 So. 2d 817 (La. Ct. App. 1994).

State v. Mitchell, 772 So. 2d 78 (La. 2000).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(B) — 16 cases

State v. Williams, 490 So. 2d 255 (La. 1986).

State in Interest of AG, 630 So. 2d 909 (La. Ct. App. 1993).

State v. Brown, 742 So. 2d 1051 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

State v. Henry, 27 So. 3d 935 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

State v. White, 621 So. 2d 884 (La. Ct. App. 1993).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(B)(1) — 7 cases

State v. Ordodi, 946 So. 2d 654 (La. 2006). “R.S. 14:27. After trial, the jury found the defendant guilty on both counts.”

State v. Cortez, 122 So. 3d 588 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

State v. Workman, 170 So. 3d 279 (La. Ct. App. 2015).

State v. Sanders, 101 So. 3d 994 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

State v. Ordodi, 916 So. 2d 439 (La. Ct. App. 2005).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(B)(3) — 1 case

State v. Beaulieu, 122 So. 3d 1050 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(C) — 47 cases

State v. Ponsell, 766 So. 2d 678 (La. Ct. App. 2000).

State v. PORTIE, 22 So. 3d 213 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “R.S. 14:27 sets forth the law as to attempted offenses, and states in pertinent part: A.”

State v. Trackling, 921 So. 2d 79 (La. 2006).

State v. Johnson, 823 So. 2d 917 (La. 2002).

State v. Perkins, 968 So. 2d 1178 (La. Ct. App. 2007).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D) — 26 cases

State v. PORTIE, 22 So. 3d 213 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “R.S. 14:27 sets forth the law as to attempted offenses, and states in pertinent part: A.”

State v. Mock, 602 So. 2d 776 (La. Ct. App. 1992).

State v. Bolden, 901 So. 2d 445 (La. Ct. App. 2005).

State v. Logan, 34 So. 3d 528 (La. Ct. App. 2010).

State v. Bannister, 88 So. 3d 628 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(1) — 69 cases

State v. Breaux, 6 So. 3d 982 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

State v. Lee, 340 So. 2d 180 (La. 1976).

State v. Pyke, 670 So. 2d 713 (La. Ct. App. 1996).

State v. PORTIE, 22 So. 3d 213 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “R.S. 14:27 sets forth the law as to attempted offenses, and states in pertinent part: A.”

State Ex Rel. Adams v. Butler, 558 So. 2d 552 (La. 1990).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(1)(B) — 3 cases

State v. Youngblood, 274 So. 3d 716 (La. Ct. App. 2019).

State of Louisiana Versus Ron C. Youngblood (La. Ct. App. 2019).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(1)(a) — 33 cases

State v. Jackson, 246 So. 3d 646 (La. Ct. App. 2018).

State v. Hough, 103 So. 3d 477 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

State v. Martinez, 38 So. 3d 926 (La. Ct. App. 2010).

State v. Underdonk, 92 So. 3d 369 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

State v. Christopher, 209 So. 3d 255 (La. Ct. App. 2016).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(1)(b) — 4 cases

State v. Vollm, 887 So. 2d 664 (La. Ct. App. 2004).

State v. Devillier, 258 So. 3d 230 (La. Ct. App. 2018).

State of Louisiana v. Gary P. Sims, Jr. (La. Ct. App. 2021).

State v. Tyler, 93 So. 3d 842 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(2) — 14 cases

State v. PORTIE, 22 So. 3d 213 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “R.S. 14:27 sets forth the law as to attempted offenses, and states in pertinent part: A.”

State v. White, 315 So. 2d 301 (La. 1975).

State v. Dunn, 390 So. 2d 525 (La. 1980).

State v. Wright, 598 So. 2d 493 (La. Ct. App. 1992).

State v. Napoli, 428 So. 2d 957 (La. Ct. App. 1983).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(3) — 141 cases

State v. PORTIE, 22 So. 3d 213 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “R.S. 14:27 sets forth the law as to attempted offenses, and states in pertinent part: A.”

State v. Odle, 834 So. 2d 483 (La. Ct. App. 2002). “R.S. 14:27 or La. R.S. 40:979. Odle was sentenced to eighteen years at hard labor and Shaw was sentenced to twenty years at hard labor.”

State v. Boudreaux, 98 So. 3d 881 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

State v. Moore, 215 So. 3d 951 (La. Ct. App. 2017). “R.S. 14:27 and 14:42.1. Defendant argues in his brief that the degree of force he employed against H.”

State v. Lindsey, 583 So. 2d 1200 (La. Ct. App. 1991).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(I)(a) — 1 case

State v. Roach, 68 So. 3d 558 (La. Ct. App. 2010).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(a) — 1 case

State v. Hamdan, 112 So. 3d 812 (La. 2013).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(D)(l)(a) — 34 cases

State v. Marlowe, 81 So. 3d 944 (La. Ct. App. 2011).

State v. McGee, 24 So. 3d 235 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

State v. Richard, 115 So. 3d 86 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

State v. Tatum, 40 So. 3d 1082 (La. Ct. App. 2010).

State v. Bannister, 88 So. 3d 628 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(E) — 1 case

State ex rel. T.J., 124 So. 3d 484 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(a) — 2 cases

State v. Amos, 192 So. 3d 822 (La. Ct. App. 2016).

State v. Gibson, 197 So. 3d 692 (La. Ct. App. 2015).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 14:27(d)(l) — 1 case

State v. Matthews, 463 So. 2d 594 (La. 1985).

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