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CODE OF VA OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CODE

Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.įor the purpose of Section 242, acts under "color of law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official's lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties.

If you are charged with obstruction, I would be happy to discuss your case with you and see how I can help. Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement or representation to a law enforcement officer or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 who is in the course of conducting an investigation of a crime by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.Īs you can see, obstruction of justice is a serious offense. If any person by threats of bodily harm or force knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, lawfully engaged in the discharge of his duty, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court relating to a violation of or conspiracy to violate § 18.2-248 or subdivision (a)(3), (b) or (c) of § 18.2-248.1, or § 18.2-46.2 or § 18.2-46.3, or relating to the violation of or conspiracy to violate any violent felony offense listed in subsection C of § 17.1-805, he shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.ĭ.

Except as provided in subsection C, any person who, by threats or force, knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 lawfully engaged in his duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.Ĭ. If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 in the performance of his duties as such or fails or refuses without just cause to cease such obstruction when requested to do so by such judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, law enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.ī.

CODE OF VA OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CODE

Obstruction of justice is codified under Virginia Code § 18.2-460:Ī. Virginia obstruction of justice – the law In addition, the courts are clear that fleeing from the police does not amount to obstruction. If you just didn’t cooperate with a police officer, that is probably not enough to convict you of obstructing justice. No matter which section you are charged under, Virginia law requires that you actually intended to impede or obstruct the justice system. Either way, you are facing possible jail time. Depending upon which section you are charged under, the offense could be a misdemeanor or a felony. Virginia’s obstruction of justice statute has four sections. If you are charged with obstructing justice, you should know about your rights and possible defenses.

Obstruction of justice is a serious offense in Virginia.