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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49 — Threatening, attempting, or assisting in such abduction; penalty

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 3: Kidnapping and Related Offenses, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49

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. § 18.2-49Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
Any person who (1) threatens, or attempts, to abduct any other person with intent to extort money, or pecuniary benefit; (2) assists or aids in the abduction of, or threatens to abduct, any person with the intent to defile such person; or (3) assists or aids in the abduction of, or threatens to abduct, any child under 16 years of age for the purpose of concubinage or prostitution is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is threatening, attempting, or assisting in such abduction a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Threatening, attempting, or assisting in such abduction is a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49.

Which Virginia statute covers threatening, attempting, or assisting in such abduction?

Threatening, attempting, or assisting in such abduction is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49 (Threatening, attempting, or assisting in such abduction; penalty).

Is violation of court order regarding custody and visitation a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: violation of court order regarding custody and visitation ranges from a class 3 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49.1.

Withholding child from parent/guardian in violation of custody order — outside the Commonwealth: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49.1A) · Violation of custody/visitation order — first offense: class 3 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49.1B) · Violation of custody/visitation order — second offense within 12 months: class 2 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49.1B) · Violation of custody/visitation order — third offense within 24 months: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-49.1B)

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.