Virginia criminal charge

Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny in Virginia

Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session

Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181. 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. § 18.2-181.

What is the penalty for issuing bad checks, etc., larceny in Virginia?

Penalties for Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny
Penalty	Range	Basis	Authority
Jail / prison	1 years to 5 years (Bad check with represented value of $1,000 or more — The check, draft, or order issued with intent to defraud has a represented value of $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 (Bad check with represented value of $1,000 or more — The check, draft, or order issued with intent to defraud has a represented value of $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 (Bad check with value less than $1,000 — The check, draft, or order issued with intent to defraud has a represented value of less than $1,000.)	discretionary	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11
Fine	up to $2,500 (Bad check with value less than $1,000 — The check, draft, or order issued with intent to defraud has a represented value of 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 issuing bad checks, etc., larceny classified in Virginia?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny
Variant	Classification	When it applies	Statute
Bad check with represented value of $1,000 or more	Class 6 Felony	The check, draft, or order issued with intent to defraud has a represented value of $1,000 or more.	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181undefined
Bad check with value less than $1,000	Class 1 Misdemeanor	The check, draft, or order issued with intent to defraud has a represented value of less than $1,000.	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181undefined

Common questions about issuing bad checks, etc., larceny in Virginia

Is issuing bad checks, etc., larceny a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: issuing bad checks, etc., larceny ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181.

Bad check with represented value of $1,000 or more: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181) · Bad check with value less than $1,000: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181)

What are the penalties for issuing bad checks, etc., larceny in Virginia?

Penalties for issuing bad checks, etc., larceny 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 issuing bad checks, etc., larceny?

Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181 (Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny).

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.