Virginia criminal charge
Threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation in Virginia
Threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-83. 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. § 18.2-83.
What is the penalty for threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 10 years (Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — adult offender — Applies when the person making the threat or false report is 18 years of age or older.; 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(e))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — adult offender — Applies when the person making the threat or false report is 18 years of age or older.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(e)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — juvenile offender — Applies when the person making the threat or false report is under 18 years of age.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — juvenile offender — Applies when the person making the threat or false report is under 18 years of age.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
Applies to current.
How is threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — adult offender | Class 5 Felony | Applies when the person making the threat or false report is 18 years of age or older. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-83A |
| Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — juvenile offender | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Applies when the person making the threat or false report is under 18 years of age. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-83A |
Common questions about threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation in Virginia
Is threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-83.
Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — adult offender: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-83A) · Threat to bomb, damage, or discharge firearm; or false information — juvenile offender: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-83A)
What are the penalties for threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation in Virginia?
Penalties for threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 5 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 threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation?
Threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-83 (Threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation; false information as to danger to such buildings, etc.; punishment; venue).
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.