Virginia Unlawful Wounding Charge

March 1, 2018 by Jean Humbrecht

A Virginia Unlawful Wounding (Va. Code §18.2-51) is the intentional, provoked wounding of another person with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or kill.  A Virginia Unlawful Wounding charge is punished with up to 5 years in prison.

Proof of Virginia Unlawful Wounding

To convict someone of a Virginia Unlawful Wounding charge (Va. Code §18.2-51), the Commonwealth must prove that the offender unlawfully shot, stabbed, cut, or wounded another person with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or kill.

Virginia unlawful wounding charge

A Virginia Unlawful Wounding Charge is A Class 6 Felony

Unlawful: Unlawfully means intentionally committing a wrongful act without excuse or justification.

Shoot, Stab Cut, Wound: An offender commits a Virginia Unlawful Wounding by shooting, stabbing, cutting, or wounding.  Wounding is breaking the skin by using any weapon.

Intent to Maim, Disable, Disfigure, or Kill: Virginia Unlawful Wounding is committed by unlawfully committing one of the above acts intending to cause a permanent condition by maiming, disabling, disfiguring or killing.  The offender does not need to actually cause a permanent condition to be convicted.

Another Person: An offender can be convicted of a Virginia Unlawful Wounding charge if any person is injured as a result of his conduct (whether or not that person was the target) as long as the offender acted with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or kill.

Penalty for Virginia Unlawful Wounding Charge

A Virginia Unlawful Wounding charge is a Class 6 felony, punished with up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $2,500.

Virginia Unlawful Wounding Statute

§18.2-51. Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc.

If any person maliciously shoot, stab, cut, or wound any person or by any means cause him bodily injury, with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill, he shall, except where it is otherwise provided, be guilty of a Class 3 felony. If such act be done unlawfully but not maliciously, with the intent aforesaid, the offender shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. 

***DISCLAIMER: THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST, ON ANY PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE, AND ON ANY PAGES LINKED FROM THESE PAGES, ARE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A LICENSED ATTORNEY IN YOUR JURISDICTION BEFORE RELYING ON ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THESE PAGES. SENDING EMAIL TO OR VIEWING INFORMATION FROM THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP***
tags: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |