(a) Any teacher, principal, counselor, coach, other employee, or volunteer of any private or public elementary or secondary school who engages in sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion, or sexual contact, as those terms are defined in § 61-8B-1 of this code, with any student enrolled in the school regardless of the age of the student is guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years or fined not more than $5,000 or both imprisoned and fined. The fact that the student may have consented to such an act or that the act did not occur on school property or during a school function is not a defense.

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Terms Used In West Virginia Code 61-8B-11b

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) A private elementary or secondary school means any school enrolling students who are exempt from compulsory school attendance under either §18-8-1(b) of this code or §18-8-1 (k) of this code; and

(2) A public elementary or secondary school means any school under the general supervision of the West Virginia Board of Education pursuant to section two, article XII of the West Virginia Constitution.

(c) This is a separate and distinct criminal offense from any other applicable offense under this code. The penalties set forth, in this section, are in addition to any other penalties for any other applicable offense.

(d) A final conviction under this section shall cause the permanent forfeiture of any teaching or other certificate issued pursuant to § 18A-3-2a of this code.