WEST virginia Legislature
2016 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 4458
By Delegates Skinner and Manchin
[Introduced February 9, 2016; referred to the committee on the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-8-19a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties for participating in an animal fighting venture.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §61-8-19a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 8. CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY, MORALITY AND DECENCY.
§61-8-19a. Animal fighting ventures prohibited.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to engage in, be employed at, or sell an admission to any animal fighting venture.
(b) Any person who violates
the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor felony
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 $1,000
and not more than $1,000 $25,000, or confined in the county
jail imprisoned in a state correctional facility not exceeding
less than one year, nor more than ten years or both so
fined and confined imprisoned and may be divested of ownership
and control of such animals, and be liable for all costs for their care and
maintenance: Provided, That if the animal is a wild animal, game animal
or fur-bearing animal, as defined in section two, article one, chapter twenty
of this code, or wildlife not indigenous to West Virginia, or of a canine,
feline, porcine, bovine, or equine species whether wild or domesticated, the
person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and,
upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 $25,000
and not more than $5,000 $50,000, and imprisoned in a state
correctional facility for not less than one five nor more than five
fifteen years, or both fined and imprisoned.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase the penalties for participating in an animal fighting venture.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.