Montana Title 45. Crimes § 45-6-327. Illegal branding or altering or obscuring of brand

(1) A person commits the offense of illegal branding or altering or obscuring a brand if the person marks or brands any commonly domesticated hoofed animal or removes, covers, alters, or defaces an existing mark or brand on any commonly domesticated hoofed animal with the purpose of obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over the animal or with the purpose of concealing, misrepresenting, transferring, or preventing identification of the animal.

(2) A person convicted of the offense of illegal branding or altering or obscuring a brand shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years or be fined an amount of not less than $5,000 or more than $50,000, or both. If a prison term is deferred, the court shall order the offender to perform 416 hours of community service during a 1-year period, in the offender's county of residence. In addition to the fine and imprisonment, the offender's property is subject to criminal forfeiture pursuant to 45-6-328 and 45-6-329.