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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361 — Crimes against nature; penalty

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. § 18.2-361

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. § 18.2-361Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. If any person carnally knows in any manner any brute animal or voluntarily submits to such carnal knowledge, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. B. Any person who performs or causes to be performed cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, or anal intercourse upon or by his daughter or granddaughter, son or grandson, brother or sister, or father or mother is guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, if a parent or grandparent commits any such act with his child or grandchild and such child or grandchild is at least 13 but less than 18 years of age at the time of the offense, such parent or grandparent is guilty of a Class 3 felony. C. For the purposes of this section, parent includes step-parent, grandparent includes step-grandparent, child includes step-child, and grandchild includes step-grandchild.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is crimes against nature a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: crimes against nature ranges from a class 6 felony to a class 3 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361.

Carnal knowledge of a brute animal: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361A) · Incestuous sodomy — general: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361B) · Incestuous sodomy — parent or grandparent with child/grandchild aged 13 to 17: class 3 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361B)

Which Virginia statute covers crimes against nature?

Crimes against nature is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361 (Crimes against nature; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.