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Common Criminal Charges In Virginia

The criminal defense practice at Lee Lopez Law covers a broad spectrum of charges. Below is a list of misdemeanor and felony charges that are commonly brought against suspects in Virginia. The attorneys of Lee Lopez Law handle these types of cases and those not listed below. If you don’t know what charge you are facing and your case is in General District Court or certain Circuit Courts in Virginia, you may be able to find your case information here (GDC cases) or here (CC cases).

All of the charges listed below can be found in the Virginia Legislative Information System, which provides the current version of the laws. Reviewing the statute may help you understand the severity of the charge and the elements of the offense. However, most terms in the law have additional meanings that cannot be learned or understood by simply reviewing the legal text. Our attorneys are trained in reading these statutes and have experience with the interpretations provided to the various terms or elements of the offense for each crime.

Google-ing the law or reading things online is a fine place to start your research on your charge. But there is no substitute for legal training and experience when it comes to understanding what is important to a judge or jury when deciding a criminal case. Call us at 703-259-8731 or complete our contact form to set up a consultation with our experienced criminal defense attorneys to learn how we can assist you with your criminal case.

Offenses Involving Assault, Abduction, Robbery & Stalking

§ 18.2-42 – Assault or battery by mob

§ 18.2-42.1 – Acts of violence by mob

§ 18.2-47 – Abduction and kidnapping

§ 18.2-48 – Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose

§ 18.2-49.1 – Violation of court order regarding custody and visitation

§ 18.2-51 – Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc.

§ 18.2-51.1 – Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel

§ 18.2-51.2 – Aggravated malicious wounding

§ 18.2-51.4 – Maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated

§ 18.2-51.6 – Strangulation of another

§ 18.2-52 – Malicious bodily injury by means of any caustic substance or agent or use of any explosive or fire

§ 18.2-53 – Shooting, etc., in committing or attempting a felony

§ 18.2-53.1 – Use or display of firearm in committing felony

§ 18.2-56.1 – Reckless handling of firearms; reckless handling while hunting

§ 18.2-57 – Assault and battery

§ 18.2-57.2 – Assault and battery against a family or household member

§ 18.2-58 – Robbery

§ 18.2-58.1 – Carjacking

§ 18.2-59 – Extortion of money, property or pecuniary benefit

§ 18.2-60 – Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family; threats to commit serious bodily harm to persons on school property

§ 18.2-60.3 – Stalking

§ 18.2-60.4 – Violation of protective orders

§ 18.2-60.5 – Unauthorized use of electronic tracking device

Offenses Involving Sexual Assaults

§ 18.2-61 – Rape

§ 18.2-64.1 – Carnal knowledge of certain minors

§ 18.2-67.1 – Forcible sodomy

§ 18.2-67.2 – Object sexual penetration

§ 18.2-67.3 – Aggravated sexual battery

§ 18.2-67.4 – Sexual battery

§ 18.2-67.4:2 – Sexual abuse of a child under 15 years of age

§ 18.2-67.5 – Attempted rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, aggravated sexual battery, and sexual battery

Offenses Involving Arson and Use of Explosives

§ 18.2-77 – Burning or destroying dwelling house, etc.

§ 18.2-79 – Burning or destroying meeting house, etc.

§ 18.2-80 – Burning or destroying any other building or structure

§ 18.2-81 – Burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc.

§ 18.2-82 – Burning building or structure while in such building or structure with intent to commit felony

§ 18.2-83 – Threats to bomb or damage buildings or means of transportation; false information as to danger to such buildings, etc.; punishment; venue

§ 18.2-84 – Causing, inciting, etc., commission of act proscribed by § 18.2-83

§ 18.2-85 – Manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices; penalties

Offenses Involving Burglary

§ 18.2-89 – Burglary; how punished

§ 18.2-90 – Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson

§ 18.2-91 – Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit larceny, assault and battery or other felony

§ 18.2-92 – Breaking and entering dwelling house with intent to commit other misdemeanor

§ 18.2-93 – Entering bank, armed, with intent to commit larceny

§ 18.2-94 – Possession of burglarious tools, etc.

Offenses Involving Theft

§ 18.2-95 – Grand larceny defined; how punished

§ 18.2-96 – Petit larceny defined; how punished

§ 18.2-103 – Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts

§ 18.2-108 – Receiving, etc., stolen goods

§ 18.2-108.01 – Larceny with intent to sell or distribute; sale of stolen property

§ 18.2-108.1 – Receipt of stolen firearm

§ 18.2-109 – Receipt or transfer of possession of stolen vehicle, aircraft or boat

Offenses Involving Trespass and Damage to Property

§ 18.2-119 – Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties

§ 18.2-121 – Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc.

§ 18.2-130 – Peeping or spying into dwelling or enclosure

§ 18.2-130.1 – Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device

§ 18.2-137 – Injuring, etc., any property, monument, etc.

§ 18.2-138 – Damaging public buildings, etc.

§ 18.2-154 – Shooting at or throwing missiles, etc., at train, car, vessel, etc.

§ 18.2-164 – Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines; copying or obstructing messages

Offenses Involving Computer Trespass and Harassment

§ 18.2-152.3 – Computer fraud

§ 18.2-152.3:1 – Transmission of unsolicited commercial electronic mail (spam)

§ 18.2-152.4 – Computer trespass

§ 18.2-152.5 – Computer invasion of privacy; penalties

§ 18.2-152.5:1 – Using a computer to gather identifying information; penalties

§ 18.2-152.6 – Theft of computer services; penalties

§ 18.2-152.7 – Personal trespass by computer

§ 18.2-152.7:1 – Harassment by computer

Offenses Involving Fraud & Forgery Offenses

§ 18.2-168 – Forging public records, etc.

§ 18.2-172 – Forging, uttering, etc., other writings

§ 18.2-174 – Impersonating law-enforcement officer

§ 18.2-178 – Obtaining money or signature, etc., by false pretense

§ 18.2-178.1 – Financial exploitation of mentally incapacitated persons

§ 18.2-181 – Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny

§ 18.2-186 – False statements to obtain property or credit

§ 18.2-192 – Credit card theft

§ 18.2-193 – Credit card forgery

§ 18.2-194 – Unauthorized possession of two or more signed credit cards or credit card numbers

§ 18.2-195 – Credit card fraud; conspiracy; penalties

§ 18.2-195.2 – Fraudulent application for credit card; penalties

§ 18.2-196 – Criminal possession of credit card forgery devices

§ 18.2-207 – Making false entry, etc., in marriage register, etc.

§ 18.2-208 – Making false statement, etc., for marriage record, etc.

§ 18.2-212 – Calling or summoning emergency medical services vehicle or firefighting apparatus without just cause; maliciously activating fire alarms; venue

§ 18.2-214 – Changing or removing, etc., trademarks, identification marks, etc.

§ 18.2-217 – Advertising merchandise, etc., for sale with intent not to sell at price or terms advertised; prima facie evidence of violation

Offenses Involving Drugs or Alcohol

§ 18.2-247 – Use of terms “controlled substances,” “marijuana,” “Schedules I, II, III, IV, V and VI,” “imitation controlled substance” and “counterfeit controlled substance” in Title 18.2

§ 18.2-248 – Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties

§ 18.2-248.01 – Transporting controlled substances into the Commonwealth

§ 18.2-248.02 – Allowing a minor or incapacitated person to be present during manufacture or attempted manufacture of methamphetamine prohibited; penalties

§ 18.2-248.03 – Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute methamphetamine

§ 18.2-248.3 – Professional use of imitation controlled substances

§ 18.2-250 – Possession of controlled substances unlawful

§ 18.2-250.1 – Possession of marijuana unlawful

§ 18.2-255 – Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited

§ 18.2-255.2 – Prohibiting the sale or manufacture of drugs on or near certain properties

§ 18.2-265.3 – Penalties for sale, etc., of drug paraphernalia

§ 18.2-266 – Driving motor vehicle, engine, etc., while intoxicated, etc.

§ 18.2-266.1 – Persons under age 21 driving after illegally consuming alcohol

Offenses Involving the Handling of Firearms

§ 18.2-279 – Discharging firearms or missiles within or at building or dwelling house

§ 18.2-280 – Willfully discharging firearms in public places

§ 18.2-282 – Pointing, holding, or brandishing firearm, air or gas operated weapon or object similar in appearance

§ 18.2-282.1 – Brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate

§ 18.2-308 – Carrying concealed weapons; exceptions

Offenses Involving Bawdy House and Solicitation

§ 18.2-346 – Prostitution; commercial sexual conduct; commercial exploitation of a minor; penalties

§ 18.2-347 – Keeping, residing in or frequenting a bawdy place; “bawdy place” defined

§ 18.2-348 – Aiding prostitution or illicit sexual intercourse, etc.

Offenses Against the Elderly and Minors

§ 18.2-369 – Abuse and neglect of incapacitated adults

§ 18.2-370 – Taking indecent liberties with children; penalties

§ 18.2-370.01 – Indecent liberties by children

§ 18.2-370.1 – Taking indecent liberties with child by person in custodial or supervisory relationship; penalties

§ 18.2-371.1 – Abuse and neglect of children; abandoned infant

§ 18.2-374 – Production, publication, sale, possession, etc., of obscene items

§ 18.2-374.1 – Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography; presumption as to age

§ 18.2-374.1:1 – Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography

§ 18.2-387 – Indecent exposure

§ 18.2-387.1 – Obscene sexual display

Miscellaneous Criminal Charges

§ 18.2-388 – Profane swearing and intoxication in public; transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center

§ 18.2-415 – Disorderly conduct in public places

§ 18.2-429 – Causing telephone or pager to ring with intent to annoy

§ 18.2-460 – Obstructing justice; resisting arrest; fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalties