[§6E-72]  Taking, appropriation, excavation,injury, destruction, or alteration of a burial site; penalty.  (a)  Aperson commits the offense of taking, appropriation, excavation, injury,destruction, or alteration of a burial site if the person knowingly:

(1)  Takes, appropriates, excavates, injures,destroys, or alters any burial site or the contents thereof, located on privateland or land owned or controlled by the State or any of its politicalsubdivisions, except as permitted by the department; or

(2)  Takes, appropriates, excavates, injures,destroys, or alters any burial site or the contents thereof during the courseof land development or land alteration activities to which section 6E-42applies, without obtaining the required approval.

(b)  Taking, appropriation, excavation, injury,destruction, or alteration of a burial site is a misdemeanor for which a finenot to exceed $25,000 may be imposed, in addition to any other penaltyauthorized by chapter 706 for a misdemeanor.

(c)  Each day of a continued violation of thissection shall constitute a distinct and separate offense. [L 2005, c 128, pt of§1]