Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-209 — False publications
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 7: Miscellaneous False and Fraudulent Acts, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-209
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.
Any person who knowingly and willfully states, delivers or transmits by any means whatever to any publisher, or employee of a publisher, of any newspaper, magazine, or other publication or to any owner, or employee of an owner, of any radio station, television station, news service or cable service, any false and untrue statement, knowing the same to be false or untrue, concerning any person or corporation, with intent that the same shall be published, broadcast or otherwise disseminated, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is false publications a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
False publications is a class 3 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-209.
Which Virginia statute covers false publications?
False publications is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-209 (False publications).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.