2006 Code of Virginia § 18.2-18 - How principals in second degree and accessories before the fact punished

18.2-18. How principals in second degree and accessories before the factpunished.

In the case of every felony, every principal in the second degree and everyaccessory before the fact may be indicted, tried, convicted and punished inall respects as if a principal in the first degree; provided, however, thatexcept in the case of a killing for hire under the provisions of subdivision2 of 18.2-31 or a killing pursuant to the direction or order of one who isengaged in a continuing criminal enterprise under the provisions ofsubdivision 10 of 18.2-31 or a killing pursuant to the direction or orderof one who is engaged in the commission of or attempted commission of an actof terrorism under the provisions of subdivision 13 of 18.2-31, anaccessory before the fact or principal in the second degree to a capitalmurder shall be indicted, tried, convicted and punished as though the offensewere murder in the first degree.

(Code 1950, 18.1-11; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1977, c. 478; 1997, c.313; 2002, cc. 588, 623.)