Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3302 (2026)

Causing or risking catastrophe.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 3302. Causing or risking catastrophe.

(a) Causing catastrophe.--A person who causes a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, avalanche, collapse of building, release of poison gas, radioactive material or other harmful or destructive force or substance, or by any other means of causing potentially widespread injury or damage, including selling, dealing in or otherwise providing licenses or permits to transport hazardous materials in violation of 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 83 (relating to hazardous materials transportation), commits a felony of the first degree if he does so intentionally or knowingly, or a felony of the second degree if he does so recklessly.

(b) Risking catastrophe.--A person is guilty of a felony of the third degree if he recklessly creates a risk of catastrophe in the employment of fire, explosives or other dangerous means listed in subsection (a) of this section.

(Apr. 30, 2002, P.L.300, No.40, eff. 60 days)

Cross References. Section 3302 is referred to in sections 3304, 3311, 5708, 6105 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 49 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Karetny, 880 A.2d 505 (Pa. 2005).

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Commonwealth v. Karetny, 880 A.2d 505 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 9× “The primary issue in this appeal is whether the Commonwealth made out a prima facie case of risking a catastrophe, *518 18 Pa.C.S. § 3302, as to appellees, who are co-defendants in the underlying criminal prosecution.”

Commonwealth v. McCoy, 199 A.3d 411 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). · cites it 4× “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302. Appellant was charged under subsection (b), and therefore the Commonwealth was required to establish that Appellant (1) recklessly created (2) a risk of catastrophe (3) through dangerous means as contemplated by subsection (a).”

Commonwealth v. Taylor, 876 A.2d 916 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 2× “§ 3301(a)(1); one count each of causing a catastrophe and risking a catastrophe, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(a) and (b); one count of ethnic intimidation, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. O'Donnell, 740 A.2d 198 (Pa. 1999). · cites it 2× “§ 907(a); robbery, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701; theft by unlawful taking, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Pierce, 645 A.2d 189 (Pa. 1994). “6 . The naval records did indicate a few blemishes, although appellant was honorably discharged.”

Commonwealth v. Gribble, 703 A.2d 426 (Pa. 1997). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(b). 9 . 18 Pa.C.S. § 4101.”

Commonwealth v. Andre, 17 A.3d 951 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(b). 5 .Three of the four expert witnesses called to testify, two of Appellee’s expert witnesses and one of the Commonwealth's experts, agreed that Appellee was legally insane when she ignited the fire.”

Commonwealth v. Scatena, 481 A.2d 855 (Pa. 1984). · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(b). “Dangerous means”, as set forth in § 3302(a), include any “harmful or destructive force or substance” as well as “any other means of causing potentially widespread injury or damage”.”

Ronald Muth v. Dennis Woodring, 666 F. App'x 137 (3rd Cir. 2016). “Muth was charged with (1) Arson Endangering Persons (Felony 1), 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3301 (a)(1)(I); (2) Causing or Risking Catastrophe (Felony 3), 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Hughes, 364 A.2d 306 (Pa. 1976). “334, § 1, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(b). 7 . The grand jury subsequently indicted appellee under Section 3302(a) at No.”

Commonwealth v. Garnett, 485 A.2d 821 (Pa. 1984). · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(a). And conviction for recklessly endangering another person will stand where appellant has recklessly engaged in conduct which placed another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.”

Commonwealth v. John, 596 A.2d 834 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991). · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302. John contends that the potential for injury and damage was insufficient to satisfy the requirements of the statute.”

Show all 49 citing cases →

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3302(B) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Yale, E., Aplt. (Pa. 2021).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3302(a) — 14 cases

Commonwealth v. Karetny, 880 A.2d 505 (Pa. 2005). “The primary issue in this appeal is whether the Commonwealth made out a prima facie case of risking a catastrophe, *518 18 Pa.C.S. § 3302, as to appellees, who are co-defendants in the underlying criminal prosecution.”

Commonwealth v. Taylor, 876 A.2d 916 (Pa. 2005). “§ 3301(a)(1); one count each of causing a catastrophe and risking a catastrophe, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(a) and (b); one count of ethnic intimidation, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Garnett, 485 A.2d 821 (Pa. 1984). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(a). And conviction for recklessly endangering another person will stand where appellant has recklessly engaged in conduct which placed another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.”

Commonwealth v. Smalis, 592 A.2d 669 (Pa. 1991).

Com. v. Matthews, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2021).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3302(b) — 31 cases

Commonwealth v. McCoy, 199 A.3d 411 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302. Appellant was charged under subsection (b), and therefore the Commonwealth was required to establish that Appellant (1) recklessly created (2) a risk of catastrophe (3) through dangerous means as contemplated by subsection (a).”

Commonwealth v. O'Donnell, 740 A.2d 198 (Pa. 1999). “§ 907(a); robbery, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701; theft by unlawful taking, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Gribble, 703 A.2d 426 (Pa. 1997). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(b). 9 . 18 Pa.C.S. § 4101.”

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.