Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-386.2 — Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another; penalty
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 5: Obscenity and Related Offenses, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-386.2
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.
A. Any person who, with the intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously disseminates or sells any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever that depicts another person (i) who is totally nude; (ii) who is in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (iii) whose genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast are not exposed but such videographic or still image is obscene as defined in § 18.2-372 where such person knows or has reason to know that he is not licensed or authorized to disseminate or sell such videographic or still image is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "another person" includes a person whose image was used in creating, adapting, or modifying a videographic or still image with the intent to depict an actual person and who is recognizable as an actual person by the person's face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic.
B. If a person uses services of an Internet service provider, an electronic mail service provider, or any other information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server in committing acts prohibited under this section, such provider shall not be held responsible for violating this section for content provided by another person.
C. Venue for a prosecution under this section may lie in the jurisdiction where the unlawful act occurs or where any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever is produced, reproduced, found, stored, received, or possessed in violation of this section.
D. The provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-386.2.
Which Virginia statute covers unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another?
Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-386.2 (Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another; penalty).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.