West Virginia Code 62-9-12 – Indictment for false pretenses
An indictment for false pretenses shall be sufficient if it be in form, tenor or effect as follows (after following the form in section one):
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 62-9-12
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing, engraving, writing, or otherwise. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- 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
That A ……………, on the …….. day of …….., nineteen …….., in the said county of …….., did unlawfully, fraudulently, designedly and feloniously falsely pretend to one B …………… that (here set out the fraudulent misrepresentations), by means of which fraudulent and false pretenses the said A …………… did then and there feloniously and unlawfully obtain (here state the money or property obtained) of the property, goods and chattels of B ……………, against the peace and dignity of the state.
And where goods which may be the subject of larceny are obtained on credit by false pretenses by the representation by the accused that there is money due or to become due him and he shall assign the claim for such money in writing to the person from whom such money, goods or other property is obtained, and shall afterwards collect the same without the consent of the assignee, with intent to defraud the indictment shall be sufficient if it be in form, tenor or effect as follows (after following the form in section one):
That A ……………, on the …….. day of …….., nineteen …….., in the said county of ……………., did unlawfully, fraudulently, designedly and feloniously falsely pretend and represent to one B …………… that there was a certain sum of money due to him the said A ……………, from one C ……………, and then and there assign in writing to the said B …………… the said sum of money so claimed to be due him from the said C ……………, whereupon and by means of which, the said A …………… did then and there obtain, falsely, fraudulently and feloniously, from the said B …………… (here state and describe the money, goods and property of the said B ……………, so obtained, and the value thereof), of the money, goods and property of the said B ……………, and the said A …………… afterwards, to wit, on or about the …….. day of …….., nineteen …….., did fraudulently stop, and feloniously collect from said C …………… the money so assigned to the said B ……………, without the consent of the said B …………… first obtained, against the peace and dignity of the state.