(a) A person does not commit an offense of damaging, tampering with, operating, riding in or upon, or making connection with property of another if he does so under a claim of right and has reasonable grounds to believe he has such right.

    (b) The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of claim of right; provided, however, that this defense shall not be available to a tenant in any prosecution involving property damage to a premises leased or rented by that tenant from another.

(Code 1964, § 7.790)

     State law reference(s)--Similar provisions, RSMo. § 569.130.