A. If a person unlawfully disinters or displaces a dead human body, or any part of a dead human body which has been deposited in any vault, grave or other burial place, he is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Attorney's Note

Under the Virginia Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 4 felony2 to 10 yearsup to $100,000
Class 6 felonyup to 5 yearsup to $2,500
For details, see Va. Code § 18.2-10 and Va. Code § 18.2-10

Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

B. If a person willfully and intentionally physically defiles a dead human body he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. For the purposes of this section, the term “defile” shall not include any autopsy or the recovery of organs or tissues for transplantation, or any other lawful purpose.

Code 1950, § 18.1-243; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1995, c. 306.