H. B. 4234
(By Delegates L. White, Staton,
Hunt, Trump, Beane, Smirl and Manuel)
[Introduced February 2, 1998; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend article four, chapter sixty-one of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
five-a, relating to crimes; creating the felony offense of
taking the identity of another; penalties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article four, chapter sixty-one of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
five-a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. FORGERY AND CRIMES AGAINST THE CURRENCY.
§61-4-5a. Taking identity of another; penalty.
Any person who knowingly takes the name, date of birth or
social security number of another person, without the consent of
that other person, with the intent to obtain, use or utter the other person's identity for any unlawful purpose or to cause
financial loss to the other person, is guilty of a felony and,
upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five
thousand dollars or imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than
one year nor more than five years, or, in the discretion of the
court, confined in the county or regional jail not more than one
year, or both fined and imprisoned.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a felony
offense for taking the identity of another person for unlawful
purposes or to cause financial loss to the other person and
provides penalties upon conviction thereof.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.