2006 Code of Virginia § 18.2-47 - Abduction and kidnapping defined; punishment

18.2-47. Abduction and kidnapping defined; punishment.

A. Any person, who, by force, intimidation or deception, and without legaljustification or excuse, seizes, takes, transports, detains or secretes theperson of another, with the intent to deprive such other person of hispersonal liberty or to withhold or conceal him from any person, authority orinstitution lawfully entitled to his charge, shall be deemed guilty of"abduction"; but the provisions of this section shall not apply to anylaw-enforcement officer in the performance of his duty. The terms"abduction" and "kidnapping" shall be synonymous in this Code. Abductionfor which no punishment is otherwise prescribed shall be punished as a Class5 felony.

B. If such offense is committed by the parent of the person abducted andpunishable as contempt of court in any proceeding then pending, the offenseshall be a Class 1 misdemeanor in addition to being punishable as contempt ofcourt. However, such offense, if committed by the parent of the personabducted and punishable as contempt of court in any proceeding then pendingand the person abducted is removed from the Commonwealth by the abductingparent, shall be a Class 6 felony in addition to being punishable as contemptof court.

(Code 1950, 18.1-36, 18.1-37; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1979, c.663; 1980, c. 506; 1997, c. 747.)