WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 142

By Senator Ojeda

[Introduced January 9, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on Military; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-1-10, relating to creating a misdemeanor offense of impersonating a member of the military; setting forth restrictions; and detailing criminal penalty.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. CRIMES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

§61-1-10. Impersonation of a military member or veteran; penalty.

Any person who falsely represents himself or herself to be a member of, or retired from, any active or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States with the intent to create a false past and obtain any monetary benefit or other personal gain is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a misdemeanor offense related to stolen valor, such that it is a crime to impersonate a member or veteran of the Armed Forces with the intent to obtain a monetary benefit or other personal gain.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.