Virginia criminal charge
Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc in Virginia
Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-121. 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. § 18.2-121.
What is the penalty for entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (Entering property to damage or interfere with owner's rights — Applies when a person enters another's land, dwelling, outhouse, or other building for the purpose of damaging the property or its contents, or otherwise interfering with the owner's, user's, or occupant's rights to use the property free from interference.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Entering property to damage or interfere with owner's rights — Applies when a person enters another's land, dwelling, outhouse, or other building for the purpose of damaging the property or its contents, or otherwise interfering with the owner's, user's, or occupant's rights to use the property free from interference.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 5 years (Bias-motivated entry to damage or interfere with property — Applies when the person intentionally selects the property entered because of the race, religious conviction, color, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin of the owner, user, or occupant, and carries a mandatory minimum six-month term of confinement.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Bias-motivated entry to damage or interfere with property — Applies when the person intentionally selects the property entered because of the race, religious conviction, color, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin of the owner, user, or occupant, and carries a mandatory minimum six-month term of confinement.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
Applies to current.
How is entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering property to damage or interfere with owner's rights | class 1 misdemeanor | Applies when a person enters another's land, dwelling, outhouse, or other building for the purpose of damaging the property or its contents, or otherwise interfering with the owner's, user's, or occupant's rights to use the property free from interference. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-121B |
| Bias-motivated entry to damage or interfere with property | class 6 felony | Applies when the person intentionally selects the property entered because of the race, religious conviction, color, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin of the owner, user, or occupant, and carries a mandatory minimum six-month term of confinement. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-121B |
Common questions about entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc in Virginia
Is entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-121.
Entering property to damage or interfere with owner's rights: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-121B) · Bias-motivated entry to damage or interfere with property: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-121B)
What are the penalties for entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc in Virginia?
Penalties for entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc?
Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-121 (Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc.; penalties).
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.