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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-462 — Concealing or compounding offenses; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 6: Interference with Administration of Justice, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-462

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. § 18.2-462Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. Except as provided in subsection B, if any person knowing of the commission of an offense takes any money or reward, or an engagement therefor, upon an agreement or understanding, expressed or implied, to compound or conceal such offense, or not to prosecute therefor, or not to give evidence thereof, he shall, if such offense is a felony, be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor; and if such offense is not a felony, unless it is punishable merely by forfeiture to him, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. B. Any person, other than the victim of the crime or the husband, wife, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, or sister, by consanguinity or affinity of the offender, who with actual knowledge of the commission by another of any felony offense under Chapter 4 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of this title, willfully conceals, alters, dismembers, or destroys any item of physical evidence with the intent to delay, impede, obstruct, prevent, or hinder the investigation, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of any person regarding such offense is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

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Questions this section answers

Is concealing or compounding offenses a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: concealing or compounding offenses ranges from a class 4 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-462.

Concealing/compounding a felony offense: class 2 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-462A) · Concealing/compounding a non-felony offense: class 4 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-462A) · Concealing/destroying evidence of a Chapter 4 felony: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-462B)

Which Virginia statute covers concealing or compounding offenses?

Concealing or compounding offenses is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-462 (Concealing or compounding offenses; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.