West Virginia § 61-8A-2 Distribution and display to minor of obscene matter; penalties; defenses

West Virginia Statutes

§ 61-8A-2 — Distribution and display to minor of obscene matter; penalties; defenses

West Virginia § 61-8A-2

Ch. 61CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT

Art. 8APREPARATION, DISTRIBUTION OR EXHIBITION OF OBSCENE MATTER TO MINORS

This text of West Virginia § 61-8A-2 (Distribution and display to minor of obscene matter; penalties; defenses) 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 § 61-8A-2 (2026).

Text

(a)Any adult, with knowledge of the character of the matter, who knowingly and intentionally distributes, offers to distribute, or displays to a minor any obscene matter, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $25,000, or confined in a state correctional facility for not more than five years, or both.

(b)It is a defense to a prosecution under the provisions of this section that the obscene matter:

(1)Was displayed in an area from which minors are physically excluded and the matter so located cannot be viewed by a minor from nonrestricted areas; or

(2)Was covered by a device, commonly known as a “blinder rack,” such that the lower two thirds of the cover of the material is not exposed to view; or

(3)Was enclosed in an opaque wrapper such th

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(a) Any adult, with knowledge of the character of the matter, who knowingly and intentionally distributes, offers to distribute, or displays to a minor any obscene matter, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $25,000, or confined in a state correctional facility for not more than five years, or both.

(b) It is a defense to a prosecution under the provisions of this section that the obscene matter:

(1) Was displayed in an area from which minors are physically excluded and the matter so located cannot be viewed by a minor from nonrestricted areas; or

(2) Was covered by a device, commonly known as a “blinder rack,” such that the lower two thirds of the cover of the material is not exposed to view; or

(3) Was enclosed in an opaque wrapper such that the lower two thirds of the cover of the material was not exposed to view; or

(4) Was displayed or distributed after taking reasonable steps to receive, obtain or check an adult identification card, such as a driver's license or other technically or reasonably feasible means of verification of age.

(c) It is a defense to an alleged violation under this section that a parent had taken reasonable steps to limit the minor's access to the obscene matter.