W. Va. Code § 61-8D-3

Current through 2024 Regular Session
Section 61-8D-3 - [Effective 6/5/2024] Child abuse resulting in injury; child abuse creating risk of injury; criminal penalties
(a) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall abuse a child and by the abuse cause the child bodily injury as the term is defined in § 61-8B-1 of this code, then such parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or in the discretion of the court, be confined in jail for not more than one year.
(b) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall abuse a child and by the abuse cause the child serious bodily injury as that term is defined in § 61-8B-1 of this code, then such parent, guardian or custodian shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 and committed to the custody of the Division of Corrections not less than two nor more than 10 years.
(c) Any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child who abuses a child and by the abuse creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, as serious bodily injury is defined in § 61-8B-1 of this code, to the child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $3,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or both.
(d)
(1) If a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child who has not previously been convicted under this section, § 61-8D-4 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements abuses a child and by the abuse creates a substantial risk of bodily injury, as bodily injury is defined in § 61-8B-1, to the child is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both.
(2) For a second offense under this subsection or for a person with one prior conviction under this section, § 61-8D-4 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements, the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,500 and confined in jail not less than 30 days nor more than one year, or both.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense under this subsection or for a person with two or more prior convictions under this section, § 61-8D-4 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements, the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $3,000 and imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than one year nor more than three years, or both.
(e) Any person convicted of a misdemeanor offense under this section:
(1) May be required to complete parenting classes, substance abuse counseling, anger management counseling, or other appropriate services, or any combination thereof, as determined by Department of Human Services through its services assessment evaluation, which shall be submitted to the court of conviction upon written request;
(2) Shall not be required to register pursuant to § 15-13-1, et seq. of this code; and
(3) Shall not, solely by virtue of the conviction, have his or her custody, visitation, or parental rights automatically restricted.
(f) Nothing in this section shall preclude a parent, guardian or custodian from providing reasonable discipline to a child.

W. Va. Code § 61-8D-3

Amended by 2024 Acts, ch. TBD (HB 5662), eff. 6/5/2024.
Amended by 2024 Acts, ch. TBD (HB 4274), eff. 1/22/2024.
Amended by 2014 Acts, ch. 36 (HB 4005), eff. 6/6/2014.
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.