West Virginia § 61-3C-14c Cyberbullying or specific acts of electronic harassment of minors; definitions; penalties; exceptions

West Virginia Statutes

§ 61-3C-14c — Cyberbullying or specific acts of electronic harassment of minors; definitions; penalties; exceptions

West Virginia § 61-3C-14c

Ch. 61CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT

Art. 3CWEST VIRGINIA COMPUTER CRIME AND ABUSE ACT

This text of West Virginia § 61-3C-14c (Cyberbullying or specific acts of electronic harassment of minors; definitions; penalties; exceptions) 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 § 61-3C-14c (2026).

Text

(a)It is unlawful for a person to knowingly and intentionally use a computer or computer network, as defined in §61-3C-3, to engage in conduct with the intent to harass, intimidate, or bully a minor, including, but not limited to:

(1)Posting, disseminating or encouraging others to post or disseminate private, personal, or sexual information pertaining to a minor on the Internet; or

(2)Posting obscene material, as defined in §61-3C-14a of this code, in a real or doctored image of a minor on the Internet;

(b)For the purposes of this section:

(1)“Harass, intimidate or bully” means any intentional gesture, or any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act, communication, transmission or threat that:

(A)A reasonable person under the circumstances should know the act wil

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(a) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly and intentionally use a computer or computer network, as defined in §61-3C-3, to engage in conduct with the intent to harass, intimidate, or bully a minor, including, but not limited to:

(1) Posting, disseminating or encouraging others to post or disseminate private, personal, or sexual information pertaining to a minor on the Internet; or

(2) Posting obscene material, as defined in §61-3C-14a of this code, in a real or doctored image of a minor on the Internet;

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Harass, intimidate or bully” means any intentional gesture, or any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act, communication, transmission or threat that:

(A) A reasonable person under the circumstances should know the act will have the effect of any one or more of the following:

(i) Physically harming a minor;

(ii) Damaging a minor’s property;

(iii) Placing a minor in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person; or

(iv) Placing a minor in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property; or

(B) Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or emotionally abusive environment for a minor.

(2) “Minor” means an individual under the age of 18 years old.

(c) This section does not apply to a peaceful activity intended to:

(i) Express a political view; or

(ii) Provide information to others with no intent to harass, intimidate, or bully.

(d) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $500 or confined in jail for a period not to exceed one year, or both confined and fined.