WEST virginia legislature

2018 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4514

By Delegates Sobonya, C. Miller, Rohrbach, Queen, Butler, Canestraro, Summers, Higginbotham, Pack, Lovejoy and Sypolt

[Introduced February 13, 2018; Referred
to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §60A-4-415, relating to making it a felony to knowingly house drug traffickers; defining elements of the offense and establishing criminal penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ArtiCLE 4.  OFFENSES AND PENALTIES.

§60A-4-415.  Prohibited acts -- Knowingly providing housing to drug traffickers; penalties.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to provide lodging, housing or overnight accommodation to another person, regardless of payment or promise of payment therefore, with the knowledge that the other person is engaged or intends to engage in the manufacture, distribution or delivery of any controlled substance in violation of this chapter.

(b) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than five years, or fined not more than $20,000, or both imprisoned and fined.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make it a felony to knowingly house a drug trafficker and to establish penalties for the offense.

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