Virginia criminal charge
Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment in Virginia
Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-187.1. 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. § 18.2-187.1.
What is the penalty for obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 5 years (Obtaining service without payment ($1,000 or more) — The value of service, credit, or benefit procured through violation of the section is $1,000 or more.; 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 (Obtaining service without payment ($1,000 or more) — The value of service, credit, or benefit procured through violation of the section is $1,000 or more.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (Obtaining service without payment (less than $1,000) — The value of service, credit, or benefit procured through violation of the section is less than $1,000.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Obtaining service without payment (less than $1,000) — The value of service, credit, or benefit procured through violation of the section is 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 obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obtaining service without payment ($1,000 or more) | class 6 felony | The value of service, credit, or benefit procured through violation of the section is $1,000 or more. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-187.1D |
| Obtaining service without payment (less than $1,000) | class 1 misdemeanor | The value of service, credit, or benefit procured through violation of the section is less than $1,000. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-187.1D |
Common questions about obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment in Virginia
Is obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-187.1.
Obtaining service without payment ($1,000 or more): class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-187.1D) · Obtaining service without payment (less than $1,000): class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-187.1D)
What are the penalties for obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment in Virginia?
Penalties for obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment 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. § 18.2-10 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment?
Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-187.1 (Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment; penalty; civil liability).
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.