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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370 — Taking indecent liberties with children; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 4: Family Offenses; Crimes Against Children, Etc, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370

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. § 18.2-370Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. Any person 18 years of age or over, who, with lascivious intent, knowingly and intentionally commits any of the following acts with any child under the age of 15 years is guilty of a Class 5 felony: (1) Expose his or her sexual or genital parts to any child to whom such person is not legally married or propose that any such child expose his or her sexual or genital parts to such person; or (2) [Repealed.] (3) Propose that any such child feel or fondle his own sexual or genital parts or the sexual or genital parts of such person or propose that such person feel or fondle the sexual or genital parts of any such child; or (4) Propose to such child the performance of an act of sexual intercourse, anal intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus or any act constituting an offense under § 18.2-361 ; or (5) Entice, allure, persuade, or invite any such child to enter any vehicle, room, house, or other place, for any of the purposes set forth in the preceding subdivisions of this subsection. B. Any person 18 years of age or over who, with lascivious intent, knowingly and intentionally receives money, property, or any other remuneration for allowing, encouraging, or enticing any person under the age of 18 years to perform in or be a subject of sexually explicit visual material as defined in § 18.2-374.1 or who knowingly encourages such person to perform in or be a subject of sexually explicit material is guilty of a Class 5 felony. C. Any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this section is guilty of a Class 4 felony, provided that (i) the offenses were not part of a common act, transaction or scheme; (ii) the accused was at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction; and (iii) it is admitted, or found by the jury or judge before whom the person is tried, that the accused was previously convicted of a violation of this section. D. Any parent, step-parent, grandparent, or step-grandparent who commits a violation of either this section or clause (v) or (vi) of subsection A of § 18.2-370.1 (i) upon his child, step-child, grandchild, or step-grandchild who is at least 15 but less than 18 years of age is guilty of a Class 5 felony or (ii) upon his child, step-child, grandchild, or step-grandchild less than 15 years of age is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is taking indecent liberties with child by person in custodial or supervisory relationship a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: taking indecent liberties with child by person in custodial or supervisory relationship ranges from a class 6 felony to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370.1.

Taking indecent liberties with child by custodian/supervisor - first offense: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370.1A) · Taking indecent liberties with child by custodian/supervisor - second or subsequent offense: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370.1B)

Is taking indecent liberties with children a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: taking indecent liberties with children ranges from a class 5 felony to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370.

Indecent liberties with child under 15: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370A) · Receiving remuneration for child in sexually explicit material: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370B) · Second or subsequent violation of this section: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370C) · Parent/grandparent offense against victim 15-17: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370D) · Parent/grandparent offense against victim under 15: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370D)

Which Virginia statute covers taking indecent liberties with children?

Taking indecent liberties with children is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-370 (Taking indecent liberties with children; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.