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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-357.1 — Commercial sex trafficking; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 3: Commercial Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, Etc, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-357.1

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. § 18.2-357.1Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. Any person who, with the intent to receive money or other valuable thing or to assist another in receiving money or other valuable thing from the earnings of a person from prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse in violation of § 18.2-346 , solicits, invites, recruits, encourages, or otherwise causes or attempts to cause a person to violate § 18.2-346 is guilty of a Class 5 felony. B. Any person who violates subsection A through the use of force, intimidation, or deception is guilty of a Class 4 felony. C. Any adult who violates subsection A with a person under 18 years of age is guilty of a Class 3 felony. D. Each violation of this section constitutes a separate and distinct felony.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is commercial sex trafficking a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: commercial sex trafficking ranges from a class 5 felony to a class 3 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-357.1.

Commercial sex trafficking — base offense: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-357.1A) · Commercial sex trafficking — through force, intimidation, or deception: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-357.1B) · Commercial sex trafficking — victim under 18: class 3 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-357.1C)

Which Virginia statute covers commercial sex trafficking?

Commercial sex trafficking is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-357.1 (Commercial sex trafficking; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.