West Virginia Code 61-14-3 – Use of forced labor; penalties
(a) Any person who knowingly uses an adult in forced labor 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, fined not more than $100,000, or both imprisoned and fined.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 61-14-3
- Adult: means an individual 18 years of age or older. See West Virginia Code 61-14-1
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Forced labor: means labor or services that are performed or provided by another person and are obtained or maintained through the following:
(A) Threat, either implicit or explicit, deception or fraud, scheme, plan, or pattern or other action intended to cause a person to believe that, if the person did not perform or provide the labor or services, that person or another person would suffer serious bodily harm, physical restraint, or deportation. See West Virginia Code 61-14-1
- Minor: means a person younger than 18 years of age or a person representing himself or herself to be a minor. See West Virginia Code 61-14-1
- Person: means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, or other legal entity. See West Virginia Code 61-14-1
- 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) Any person who knowingly uses a minor in forced labor is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than three nor more than fifteen years, fined not more than $300,000, or both imprisoned and fined.