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10.8-1 Tampering with Private Communications -- § 53a-188 (a) (1)
Revised to December 1, 2007
The defendant is charged [in count __] with tampering with private communications. The statute defining this offense reads in pertinent part as follows:
a person is guilty of tampering with private communications when, knowing that (he/she) does not have the consent of the sender or receiver, (he/she) obtains from an employee, officer or representative of a telephone or telegraph corporation, by connivance, deception, intimidation or in any other manner, information with respect to the contents or nature of a telephonic or telegraphic communication.
For you to find the defendant guilty of this charge, the state must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
Element 1 - Obtained contents
of communication
The first element is that the
defendant obtained the contents or nature of a telephonic or telegraphic
communication, by connivance, deception, intimidation or in any other manner,
from an employee, officer or representative of a telephone or telegraph
corporation. <Insert specific allegations.>
Element 2 - Without consent
The second element is that the
defendant knew that (he/she) did not have the consent of the sender or
receiver. A person does an act "without consent of another person" when
(he/she) lacks such other person's agreement or assent to engage in the act. A
person acts "knowingly"
with respect to conduct or circumstances when (he/she) is aware that (his/her)
conduct is of such nature or that such circumstances exist. <See
Knowledge, Instruction 2.3-3.>
Conclusion
In summary, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant 1) obtained the contents or nature of a telephonic or telegraphic communication from an employee, officer or representative of a telephone or telegraph corporation, and 2) (he/she) knew that the sender or receiver did not consent.
If you unanimously find that the state
has proved beyond a reasonable doubt each of the elements of the crime of
tampering with private communications, then you shall find the defendant
guilty. On the other hand, if you unanimously find that the state has failed to
prove beyond a reasonable doubt any of the elements, you shall then find the
defendant not guilty.