Defamation.

Any person who, with knowledge that a statement is false or with reckless disregard of whether the statement is false or not, publishes or otherwise disseminates any accusation against a private citizen, not currently holding or running for public office, which falsely and maliciously imports the commission by such person of a felony or any other indictable offense involving moral turpitude shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(Code 1876, §4107; Code 1886, §3773; Code 1896, §5065; Code 1907, §7340; Code 1923, §4923; Code 1940, T. 14, §350; Code 1975, §13-6-203; Act 2016-371, §1.)