Virginia criminal charge

Willfully destroying vessel, etc in Virginia

Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session

Willfully destroying vessel, etc is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-150. 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. § 18.2-150.

What is the penalty for willfully destroying vessel, etc in Virginia?

Penalties for Willfully destroying vessel, etc
Penalty	Range	Basis	Authority
Jail / prison	2 years to 10 years (Destruction of vessel valued at $1,000 or more — Applies when the ship, vessel, or watercraft (or property) willfully destroyed with intent to injure or defraud is valued at $1,000 or more.)	mandatory	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10
Fine	up to $100,000 (Destruction of vessel valued at $1,000 or more — Applies when the ship, vessel, or watercraft (or property) willfully destroyed with intent to injure or defraud 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 (Destruction of vessel valued at less than $1,000 — Applies when the ship, vessel, or watercraft (or property) willfully destroyed with intent to injure or defraud is valued at less than $1,000.)	discretionary	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11
Fine	up to $2,500 (Destruction of vessel valued at less than $1,000 — Applies when the ship, vessel, or watercraft (or property) willfully destroyed with intent to injure or defraud 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 willfully destroying vessel, etc classified in Virginia?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Willfully destroying vessel, etc
Variant	Classification	When it applies	Statute
Destruction of vessel valued at $1,000 or more	class 4 felony	Applies when the ship, vessel, or watercraft (or property) willfully destroyed with intent to injure or defraud is valued at $1,000 or more.	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-150undefined
Destruction of vessel valued at less than $1,000	class 1 misdemeanor	Applies when the ship, vessel, or watercraft (or property) willfully destroyed with intent to injure or defraud is valued at less than $1,000.	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-150undefined

Common questions about willfully destroying vessel, etc in Virginia

Is willfully destroying vessel, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: willfully destroying vessel, etc ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-150.

Destruction of vessel valued at $1,000 or more: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-150) · Destruction of vessel valued at less than $1,000: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-150)

What are the penalties for willfully destroying vessel, etc in Virginia?

Penalties for willfully destroying vessel, 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 willfully destroying vessel, etc?

Willfully destroying vessel, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-150 (Willfully destroying vessel, 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.