Section 16-10-90. Compounding a crime

   (a) A person commits the offense of compounding a crime when, after institution of criminal proceedings and without leave of the court or of the prosecuting attorney of the court where the criminal proceedings are pending, he accepts or agrees to accept any benefit in consideration of a promise, express or implied, not to prosecute or aid in the prosecution of a criminal offense.

(b) A person convicted of the offense of compounding a crime which is a felony shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or both. A person convicted of the offense of compounding a crime which is a misdemeanor is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Laws 1833, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 808; Code 1863, § 4385; Code 1868, § 4423; Code 1873, § 4491; Code 1882, § 4491; Penal Code 1895, § 323; Penal Code 1910, § 328; Code 1933, § 26-4603; Code 1933, § 26-2504, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1.