West Virginia Code 61-8A-3 – Exemptions from criminal liability
The criminal provisions of section two of this article do not apply to:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 61-8A-3
- computer: includes any connected or directly related device, equipment or facility which enables the computer to store, retrieve or communicate computer programs, computer data or the results of computer operations to or from a person, another computer or another device, but such term does not include an automated typewriter or typesetter, a portable hand-held calculator or other similar device. See West Virginia Code 61-8A-1
- Internet: means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks. See West Virginia Code 61-8A-1
- Matter: means any visual, audio, or physical item, article, production transmission, publication, exhibition, or live performance, or reproduction thereof, including any two- or three- dimensional visual or written material, film, picture, drawing, video, graphic, or computer generated or reproduced image. See West Virginia Code 61-8A-1
- Minor: means an . See West Virginia Code 61-8A-1
- Obscene matter: means matter that:
(1) An average person, applying contemporary adult community standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest, is intended to appeal to the prurient interest, or is pandered to a prurient interest. See West Virginia Code 61-8A-1
- Parent: includes a biological or adoptive parent, legal guardian or legal custodian. See West Virginia Code 61-8A-1
- Person: means any adult, partnership, firm, association, corporation or other legal entity. See West Virginia Code 61-8A-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
(a) A bona fide school, in the presentation of local or state approved curriculum;
(b) A public library, or museum, which is displaying or distributing any obscene matter to a minor only when the minor was accompanied by his or her parent;
(c) A licensed medical or mental health care provider, or judicial or law-enforcement officer, during the course of medical, psychiatric, or psychological treatment or judicial or law-enforcement activities;
(d) A person who did not know or have reason to know, and could not reasonably have learned, that the person to whom the obscene matter was distributed or displayed was a minor and who took reasonable measures to ascertain the identity and age of the minor;
(e) A person who routinely distributes obscene matter by the use of telephone, computer network or the Internet and who distributes such matter to any minor under the age of eighteen years after the person has taken reasonable measures to prevent access by minors to the obscene matter; or
(f) A radio or television station, cable television service or other telecommunications service regulated by the federal communications commission.