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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75180</law_id><section_number>18.2-126</section_number><catch_line>Violation of sepulture; defilement of a dead human body; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-2817</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Crimes Against Property</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Trespass to Realty</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If a person unlawfully disinters or displaces a dead human body, or any part of a dead human body which has been deposited in any vault, grave or other burial place, he is guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-269962" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-126/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If a person willfully and intentionally physically defiles a dead human body he is guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. For the purposes of this section, the term &#x201C;defile&#x201D; shall not include any autopsy or the recovery of organs or tissues for transplantation, or any other lawful purpose. <a id="paragraph-269963" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-126/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 18.1-243; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1995, c. 306.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
