Tampering with a consumer product is charged as which felony if no serious injury or death occurs?

• A. Second Degree Felony
• B. First Degree Felony
• C. State Jail Felony
• D. Class A Misdemeanor

Answer: (A)

Tampering with a consumer product is treated as a serious public-safety offense, with the punishment level tied to the resulting harm. When the tampering does not produce serious bodily injury or death, the statute assigns it a second-degree felony. This level sits above lesser offenses to reflect the significant risk and potential for harm involved, even if no one is injured. The penalty range for a second-degree felony is substantial (typically involving a prison term and possible fines), and the seriousness increases if injury or death had occurred. In short, no serious injury or death keeps the offense at the second-degree felony level, rather than escalating it to a first-degree felony.