Montana Title 45. Crimes § 45-6-325. Forgery

(a) without authority makes or alters a document or other object apparently capable of being used to defraud another in a manner that it purports to have been made by another or at another time or with different provisions or of different composition;

(b) issues or delivers the document or other object knowing it to have been thus made or altered;

(c) possesses with the purpose of issuing or delivering any such document or other object knowing it to have been thus made or altered; or

(d) possesses with knowledge of its character any plate, die, or other device, apparatus, equipment, or article specifically designed for use in counterfeiting or otherwise forging written instruments.

(4)(a) A person convicted of the offense of forgery if the value of the property, labor, or services obtained or attempted to be obtained does not exceed $1,500 shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500. A person convicted of a second offense shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both. A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500 and be imprisoned in the county jail for a term of not less than 5 days or more than 1 year.

(b) A person convicted of the offense of forgery for which the value of the property, labor, or services obtained or attempted to be obtained exceeds $1,500 and does not exceed $5,000 in value shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 3 years, or both. A person convicted of a second offense shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years, or both. A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 5 years and may be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000.

(c) A person convicted of the offense of forgery for which the value of the property, labor, or services obtained or attempted to be obtained exceeds $5,000 in value or is part of a common scheme shall be fined an amount not to exceed $10,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.