West Virginia

West Virginia Code — Chapter 61, Crimes and Their Punishment

477 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 61-3-45 — Tampering with pipes, tubes, wires or electrical conductors; penalty
• § 61-3-46 — Use of slugs, false coins, etc., in coin-box telephone; penalty
• § 61-3-47 — Dams or obstructions in watercourses; penalty
• § 61-3-48 — Offenses involving damage to shrubbery, flowers, trees and timber; limitation of section; penalties
• § 61-3-49 — Purchase of scrap metal by scrap metal purchasing businesses, salvage yards, or recycling facilities; certificates, records, and reports of such
• § 61-3-5 — Burning, or attempting to burn, insured property; penalty
• § 61-3-50 — Unauthorized transferral of recorded sounds; sale and possession; penalties; civil action; definition
• § 61-3-51 — Precious metals and gem dealers; records; prohibited acts
• § 61-3-52 — Wrongful injuries to timber; criminal penalties
• § 61-3-53 — Unauthorized use of dumpsters
• § 61-3-54 — Taking identity of another person; penalty
• § 61-3-55 — Failure to pay for gasoline
• § 61-3-56 — Scanning device or reencoder fraud; felony; definitions; and penalties
• § 61-3-57 — Possession of bogus receipts or universal product codes with intent to defraud; penalties
• § 61-3-58 — Unlawful operation of a recording device
• § 61-3-59 — Misrepresentation of past or present military status or military awards to obtain anything of value; penalties
• § 61-3-6 — Willfully, unlawfully and maliciously setting fire on lands; penalty
• § 61-3-60 — Damage, destruction, or theft of equipment used by emergency responders; criminal penalties
• § 61-3-7 — Causing injuries during an arson-related crime; penalties
• § 61-3-8 — Recovery of costs incurred in fighting fires caused by arson
• § 61-3-9 — § 61-3-9
• § 61-3A-1 — Shoplifting defined
• § 61-3A-2 — Evidence
• § 61-3A-3 — Penalties
• § 61-3A-4 — Shoplifting constitutes breach of peace; detention
• § 61-3A-5 — Civil liability
• § 61-3A-6 — Definitions
• § 61-3A-7 — Organized retail theft; offenses; penalties; cumulation; venue; forfeiture
• § 61-3B-1 — Definitions
• § 61-3B-2 — Trespass in structure or conveyance
• § 61-3B-3 — Trespass on property other than structure or conveyance
• § 61-3B-4 — Trespass on student residence premises or student facility premises of an institution of higher education
• § 61-3B-5 — Trespass on state government property; aiding and abetting; penalties
• § 61-3B-6 — Mine trespass; penalties
• § 61-3B-7 — Animal or crop facilities trespass; penalties; injunctive relief
• § 61-3B-8 — Liability for damages; deferred judgment; dismissal
• § 61-3C-1 — Short title
• § 61-3C-10 — Disclosure of computer security information
• § 61-3C-11 — Obtaining confidential public information
• § 61-3C-12 — Computer invasion of privacy
• § 61-3C-13 — Fraud and related activity in connection with access devices
• § 61-3C-14 — Endangering public safety
• § 61-3C-15 — Computer as instrument of forgery
• § 61-3C-16 — Civil relief; damages
• § 61-3C-17 — Defenses to criminal prosecution
• § 61-3C-18 — Venue
• § 61-3C-19 — Prosecution under other criminal statutes not prohibited
• § 61-3C-2 — Legislative findings
• § 61-3C-20 — Personal jurisdiction
• § 61-3C-21 — Severability
• § 61-3C-3 — Definitions
• § 61-3C-4 — Computer fraud; access to Legislature computer; criminal penalties
• § 61-3C-5 — Unauthorized access to computer services
• § 61-3C-6 — Unauthorized possession of computer data or programs
• § 61-3C-7 — Alteration, destruction, etc., of computer equipment
• § 61-3C-8 — Disruption of computer services
• § 61-3C-9 — Unauthorized possession of computer information, etc
• § 61-3D-1 — Definitions
• § 61-3D-2 — Acquisition of cable television services
• § 61-3D-3 — Sale or transfer of the device or plan intended for acquisition or diversion
• § 61-3D-4 — Evidence
• § 61-3E-1 — Definitions
• § 61-3E-10 — Wanton endangerment involving destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices; penalty
• § 61-3E-11 — Exemptions
• § 61-3E-12 — Contraband, seizure, forfeiture
• § 61-3E-13 — Legislative findings
• § 61-3E-2 — Penalties cumulative
• § 61-3E-3 — Illegal possession of destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices; penalty
• § 61-3E-4 — Criminal use of destructive device, explosive material or incendiary device; penalty
• § 61-3E-5 — Causing death or injury; penalties
• § 61-3E-6 — Causing death or injury to an explosives detection animal; penalty
• § 61-3E-7 — Manufacture, purchase, sale, advertising for sale, transporting or possession or use of a hoax bomb; possession or use in commission of a felony
• § 61-3E-8 — Theft of explosive material from storage magazines or buildings; penalty
• § 61-3E-9 — Receipt, possession, storage, sale or transportation of stolen explosive material; penalty
• § 61-4-1 — Forgery of public record, certificate, return or attestation of court or officer; penalty
• § 61-4-2 — Forgery of official seals; keeping or concealing instrument for forging same; penalty
• § 61-4-3 — Counterfeiting; penalty
• § 61-4-4 — Making plates, etc., for forgery; possession of same; penalty
• § 61-4-5 — Forging or uttering other writing; penalty; creation of unauthorized demand draft
• § 61-4-6 — Possession of counterfeit with intent to utter; penalty
• § 61-4-7 — Unauthorized currency; penalty
• § 61-4-8 — Passing or receiving unauthorized currency knowingly; penalty
• § 61-4-9 — Unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition, alteration or possession of certain benefits
• § 61-5-1 — Perjury and subornation of perjury defined
• § 61-5-10 — Persons in custody of institutions or officers
• § 61-5-11 — Escapes and aiding in escapes; terms of confinement in addition to previous sentence
• § 61-5-12 — Escapes from, and other offenses relating to, state benevolent and correctional institution, or private prison or mental health facilities; pena
• § 61-5-13 — Refusal of officer to make, or delay in making, arrest; penalty
• § 61-5-14 — Refusal of person to aid officer; penalty
• § 61-5-15 — Refusal of person to execute order of arrest by justice; penalty
• § 61-5-16 — Refusal of officer to execute act or process of Legislature or order of Governor; penalty
• § 61-5-17 — Obstructing officer; fleeing from officer; making false statements to officer; interfering with emergency communications; penalties; definitions
• § 61-5-18 — Officer not liable for act done under statute or executive order afterward declared unconstitutional
• § 61-5-19 — Compounding offenses and misprision; penalties
• § 61-5-2 — False swearing defined
• § 61-5-20 — Exacting excessive fees; penalty
• § 61-5-21 — Issuing fraudulent fee bills; penalty
• § 61-5-22 — Alteration, concealment or destruction of public record by officer; penalty
• § 61-5-23 — Larceny, concealment or destruction of public record by person not officer; penalty
• § 61-5-24 — Corrupt summoning of jurors to find biased verdict; penalty
• § 61-5-25 — Procuring the summoning of biased juror by party other than officer; penalty
• § 61-5-26 — Contempt of court; what constitutes contempt; jury trial; presence of defendant
• § 61-5-27 — Intimidation of and retaliation against public officers and employees, jurors, and witnesses; fraudulent official proceedings and legal processe
• § 61-5-28 — Failure to perform official duties; penalty
• § 61-5-29 — Failure to meet an obligation to pay support to a minor; penalties
• § 61-5-3 — Penalties for perjury, subordination of perjury, and false swearing
• § 61-5-4 — Bribery or attempted bribery; penalty
• § 61-5-5 — Demanding or receiving bribes; penalty
• § 61-5-6 — Receiving bribe by officer in delay of service of process; penalty
• § 61-5-7 — Bribery of commissioner of court, Auditor, justice of the peace, arbitrator, umpire, juror, or other county official, either elected or appointed
• § 61-5-8 — Aiding escape and other offenses relating to adults and juveniles in custody or confinement; penalties
• § 61-5-9 — Permitting escape; refusal of custody of prisoner; penalties
• § 61-5A-1 — Short title
• § 61-5A-10 — Construction; certain other code provisions not affected; article not to affect offenses committed under other statutory provisions
• § 61-5A-11 — Severability
• § 61-5A-2 — Definitions
• § 61-5A-3 — Bribery in official and political matters
• § 61-5A-4 — Unlawful rewarding for past behavior
• § 61-5A-5 — Threats in official and political matters
• § 61-5A-6 — Gifts or gratuities to public servants prohibited; exceptions
• § 61-5A-7 — Trading in public office
• § 61-5A-8 — Certain matters not to constitute defense
• § 61-5A-9 — Penalties; disqualification to hold office; statute of limitations for misdemeanor offenses
• § 61-6-1 — Suppression of riots and unlawful assemblages
• § 61-6-10 — Reward for arrest in conspiracy cases; employment of special policemen and detectives
• § 61-6-11 — § 61-6-11
• § 61-6-12 — Mobs and lynchings; penalties; liability of county or city
• § 61-6-13 — Disturbance of religious worship; penalty
• § 61-6-14 — Disturbance of schools, societies, and other assemblies; penalty
• § 61-6-15 — § 61-6-15
• § 61-6-16 — § 61-6-16
• § 61-6-17 — False reports concerning bombs or other explosive devices; penalties
• § 61-6-18 — Camping upon governmental grounds or lawns; penalties; public nuisance
• § 61-6-19 — Willful disruption of governmental processes; offenses occurring at State Capitol Complex; penalties
• § 61-6-2 — Commitment and recognizance of rioters
• § 61-6-20 — Falsely reporting an emergency incident
• § 61-6-21 — Prohibiting violations of an individual's civil rights; penalties
• § 61-6-22 — Wearing masks, hoods or face coverings
• § 61-6-23 — Shooting range; limitations on nuisance actions; noise ordinances
• § 61-6-24 — Threats of terrorist acts, conveying false information concerning terrorist acts and committing terrorist hoaxes prohibited; penalties
• § 61-6-25 — Falsely reporting child abuse
• § 61-6-3 — Failure of member of West Virginia State Police officer, officer of the Division of Protective Services, mayor, or sheriff to exercise powers at
• § 61-6-4 — Summoning of persons to aid in suppressing riots and unlawful assemblages
• § 61-6-5 — Death of person in suppression of riots and unlawful assemblages
• § 61-6-6 — Destruction of building by rioters; penalty therefor and for rioting without such injury
• § 61-6-7 — Conspiracy to inflict injury to persons or property; infliction of injury or death in pursuance thereof; penalties
• § 61-6-8 — Release or rescue of person in custody charged or convicted under §61-6-7; penalty
• § 61-6-9 — Intimidation of witness for state in conspiracy prosecutions; penalties
• § 61-7-1 — Legislative findings
• § 61-7-10 — Deadly weapons for sale or hire; sale to prohibited persons; penalties
• § 61-7-11 — Brandishing deadly weapons; threatening or causing breach of the peace; criminal penalties
• § 61-7-12 — Wanton endangerment involving a firearm
• § 61-7-13 — § 61-7-13
• § 61-7-14 — Right of certain persons to limit possession of firearms on premises
• § 61-7-15 — Persons prohibited from committing violent crime while wearing body armor; penalties
• § 61-7-16 — Chief officer certification to transfer or make certain firearms; definitions; appeal
• § 61-7-17 — Construction of article
• § 61-7-2 — Definitions
• § 61-7-3 — Carrying a deadly weapon without provisional license or other authorization by persons under twenty-one years of age; penalties
• § 61-7-4 — License to carry deadly weapons; how obtained
• § 61-7-5 — Revocation of license
• § 61-7-6 — Exceptions as to prohibitions against carrying concealed handguns for persons at least eighteen years of age and fewer than twenty-one years of a
• § 61-7-7 — Persons prohibited from possessing firearms; classifications; right of nonprohibited persons over twenty-one years of age to carry concealed dead
• § 61-7-8 — Possession of deadly weapons by minors; prohibitions
• § 61-7-9 — Possession of machine guns, penalties
• § 61-7A-1 — Legislative intent
• § 61-7A-2 — Definitions
• § 61-7A-3 — Persons whose names are to be supplied to the central state mental health registry
• § 61-7A-4 — Confidentiality; limits on use of registry information
• § 61-7A-5 — Petition to regain right to possess firearms
• § 61-7B-1 — Short title
• § 61-7B-10 — Law-enforcement immunity
• § 61-7B-2 — Legislative findings and intent
• § 61-7B-3 — Definitions
• § 61-7B-4 — Federal commandeering prohibited
• § 61-7B-5 — Prohibitions on police activity
• § 61-7B-6 — Prohibition on court action
• § 61-7B-7 — Permitted activities
• § 61-7B-8 — Attorney General authorized and directed to challenge unconstitutional federal actions related to firearms
• § 61-7B-9 — Attorney General to publish model policies
• § 61-7C-1 — Short title
• § 61-7C-2 — Definitions
• § 61-7C-3 — Limitations on negligent marketing claims
• § 61-7C-4 — Predicate exception limitation; construction
• § 61-8-1 — Bigamy -- Penalty
• § 61-8-10 — Administering anesthetics to female save in presence of third person; penalty
• § 61-8-11 — Breathing, inhaling, or drinking certain intoxicating compounds; penalty
• § 61-8-12 — Incest; penalty
• § 61-8-13 — Incest; limits on interviews of children eleven years old or less; evidence
• § 61-8-14 — Disinterment or displacement of dead body or part thereof; damage to cemetery or graveyard; penalties; damages in civil action
• § 61-8-15 — Prohibition on certain demonstrations at funerals
• § 61-8-16 — Obscene, anonymous, harassing, repeated and threatening telephone calls; penalty
• § 61-8-17 — § 61-8-17
• § 61-8-18 — § 61-8-18
• § 61-8-19 — Cruelty to animals; penalties; exclusions
• § 61-8-2 — Same -- Effect of absence, divorce or void marriage
• § 61-8-20 — Keeping or using live birds to be shot at; penalty
• § 61-8-21 — Search warrants relating to cruelty to animals
• § 61-8-22 — Search warrants relating to birds and animals kept for fighting
• § 61-8-23 — Search without warrant where there is an exhibition of the fighting of birds or animals