West Virginia § 61-14-5 Sexual servitude; penalties

West Virginia Statutes

§ 61-14-5 — Sexual servitude; penalties

West Virginia § 61-14-5

Ch. 61CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT

Art. 14HUMAN TRAFFICKING

This text of West Virginia § 61-14-5 (Sexual servitude; penalties) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 61-14-5 (2026).

Text

(a)Any person who knowingly uses coercion to compel an adult to engage in commercial sexual activity is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than three nor more than fifteen years, fined not more than $200,000, or both imprisoned and fined.

(b)Any person who knowingly maintains or makes available a minor for the purpose of engaging the minor in commercial sexual activity is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than ten nor more than twenty years, fined not more than $300,000, or both imprisoned and fined.

(c)It is not a defense in a prosecution under subsection (b) of this section that the minor consented to engage in commercial se

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(a) Any person who knowingly uses coercion to compel an adult to engage in commercial sexual activity is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than three nor more than fifteen years, fined not more than $200,000, or both imprisoned and fined.

(b) Any person who knowingly maintains or makes available a minor for the purpose of engaging the minor in commercial sexual activity is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than ten nor more than twenty years, fined not more than $300,000, or both imprisoned and fined.

(c) It is not a defense in a prosecution under subsection (b) of this section that the minor consented to engage in commercial sexual activity, or that the defendant believed the minor was an adult.

Legislative History

2026 Reg. Sess., HB4433; 2024 Reg. Sess., HB4666; 2023 Reg. Sess., HB2252; 2021 Reg. Sess., HB2017; 2017 Reg. Sess., HB2318; 2016 Reg. Sess., HB4489; 2016 Reg. Sess., HB4575; 2011 Reg. Sess., HB3044