West Virginia Code 17C-25-9 – Unauthorized taking or operation of aircraft; penalty
Any person who commits the following prohibited acts is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $5,000, and confined in a state correctional facility for not less than two nor more than 10 years.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 17C-25-9
- Aircraft: means any contrivance now known, or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air. See West Virginia Code 17C-25-1
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Person: means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or body politic, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other similar representative thereof. See West Virginia Code 17C-25-1
- 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
(1) A person, other than the duly authorized agent, servant, or employee of the owner thereof, who takes, without the knowledge and consent of the owner, and operates within this state any aircraft owned by another person.
(2) A person who willfully and without the knowledge or consent of the owner or person in lawful charge thereof, and with the intent to deprive the owner or person in lawful charge of the possession or use thereof, either temporarily or permanently, takes possession of, enters and operates, or otherwise takes and uses, any aircraft belonging to another or in his or her lawful possession;
(3) Any person who assists, aids, and abets, or is present for the purpose and with the intent to assist, aid, or abet another person in taking possession of, entering, and operating, or otherwise taking and using the aircraft.
(4) Any person who receives, buys, conceals, or otherwise disposes of any such aircraft knowing the same to have been stolen or taken without the knowledge or consent of the owner or person in lawful charge thereof.