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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-19 — How accessories after the fact punished; certain exceptions

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Chapter 2: Principals and Accessories, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-19

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-19Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
Every accessory after the fact is guilty of (i) a Class 6 felony in the case of a homicide offense that is punishable as a Class 1 or Class 2 felony or (ii) a Class 1 misdemeanor in the case of any other felony. However, no person in the relation of spouse, parent or grandparent, child or grandchild, or sibling, by consanguinity or affinity, or servant to the offender, who, after the commission of a felony, aids or assists a principal felon or accessory before the fact to avoid or escape from prosecution or punishment, shall be deemed an accessory after the fact.

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Questions this section answers

Is how accessories after the fact punished a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: how accessories after the fact punished ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-19.

Accessory after the fact - homicide offense punishable as Class 1 or 2 felony: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-19) · Accessory after the fact - any other felony: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-19)

Which Virginia statute covers how accessories after the fact punished?

How accessories after the fact punished is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-19 (How accessories after the fact punished; certain exceptions).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.