Virginia criminal charge
Burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc in Virginia
Burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81. Its classification is not fixed: Virginia assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81.
What is the penalty for burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2 years to 10 years (Burning/destroying personal property or crops ($1,000 or more) — The property, standing grain, or other crop burned or destroyed by fire or explosive device is valued at $1,000 or more.) | mandatory | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $100,000 (Burning/destroying personal property or crops ($1,000 or more) — The property, standing grain, or other crop burned or destroyed by fire or explosive device is valued at $1,000 or more.; only together with imprisonment (§ 18.2-10(g))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (Burning/destroying personal property or crops (less than $1,000) — The property, standing grain, or other crop burned or destroyed by fire or explosive device is valued at less than $1,000.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Burning/destroying personal property or crops (less than $1,000) — The property, standing grain, or other crop burned or destroyed by fire or explosive device is valued at less than $1,000.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
Applies to current.
How is burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning/destroying personal property or crops ($1,000 or more) | Class 4 Felony | The property, standing grain, or other crop burned or destroyed by fire or explosive device is valued at $1,000 or more. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81undefined |
| Burning/destroying personal property or crops (less than $1,000) | Class 1 Misdemeanor | The property, standing grain, or other crop burned or destroyed by fire or explosive device is valued at less than $1,000. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81undefined |
Common questions about burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc in Virginia
Is burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81.
Burning/destroying personal property or crops ($1,000 or more): class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81) · Burning/destroying personal property or crops (less than $1,000): class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81)
What are the penalties for burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc in Virginia?
Penalties for burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 4 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc?
Burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-81 (Burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.