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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61326</law_id><section_number>18.2-374.1</section_number><catch_line>Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography; presumption as to age</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>17.1-805</reference><reference>18.2-370</reference><reference>18.2-370.2</reference><reference>18.2-374.3</reference><reference>18.2-513</reference><reference>19.2-10.2</reference><reference>19.2-268.3</reference><reference>19.2-305.1</reference><reference>19.2-386.31</reference><reference>19.2-390.3</reference><reference>19.2-392.02</reference><reference>19.2-70.3</reference><reference>22.1-289.041</reference><reference>40.1-100.2</reference><reference>42.1-36.1</reference><reference>63.2-1503</reference><reference>63.2-1530</reference><reference>63.2-621</reference><reference>9.1-902</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="8">Crimes Involving Morals and Decency</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Obscenity and Related Offenses</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For purposes of this article and Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Person marrying when spouse is living; penalty; venue" href="/18.2-362/">18.2-362</a> et seq.) of this chapter, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">child pornography</span>&#x201D; means <span class="dictionary">sexually explicit visual material</span> that (i) utilizes or has as a subject an identifiable <span class="dictionary">minor</span> or (ii) depicts a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct, as those terms are defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/18.2-390/">18.2-390</a>, where such depiction is obscene as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="&quot;Obscene&quot; defined" href="/18.2-372/">18.2-372</a>. An identifiable <span class="dictionary">minor</span> is a person who was a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> at the time the visual depiction was created, adapted, or modified; or whose image as a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> was used in creating, adapting or modifying the visual depiction; and who is recognizable as an actual person by the person&#x2019;s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic, such as a unique birthmark or other recognizable feature; and shall not be construed to require proof of the actual identity of the identifiable <span class="dictionary">minor</span>. For the purposes of clause (ii), the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> depicted does not have to actually exist.
			For the purposes of this article and Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Person marrying when spouse is living; penalty; venue" href="/18.2-362/">18.2-362</a> et seq.) of this chapter, the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">sexually explicit visual material</span>&#x201D; means a picture, photograph, drawing, sculpture, <span class="dictionary">motion</span> picture film, digital image, including such material stored in a computer&#x2019;s temporary Internet cache when three or more images or streaming videos are present, or similar visual representation which depicts sexual bestiality, a lewd exhibition of nudity, as nudity is defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/18.2-390/">18.2-390</a>, or sexual excitement, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse, as also defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/18.2-390/">18.2-390</a>, or a book, magazine or pamphlet which contains such a visual representation. An undeveloped photograph or similar visual material may be sexually explicit material notwithstanding that processing or other acts may be required to make its sexually explicit content apparent. <a id="paragraph-224038" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A person shall be guilty of production of <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span> who: <a id="paragraph-224039" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Accosts, entices or solicits a person less than 18 years of age with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to induce or force such person to perform in or be a subject of <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span>; or <a id="paragraph-224040" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Produces or makes or attempts or prepares to produce or make <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span>; or <a id="paragraph-224041" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Who knowingly takes part in or participates in the filming, photographing, or other production of <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span> by any means; or <a id="paragraph-224042" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Knowingly finances or attempts or prepares to finance <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span>. <a id="paragraph-224043" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> [Repealed.] <a id="paragraph-224044" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1"><p><span class="prefix-number">B1.</span> [Repealed.] <a id="paragraph-224045" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1"><p><span class="prefix-number">C1.</span> Any person who violates this section, when the subject of the <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span> is a child less than 15 years of age, shall be punished by not less than five years nor more than 30 years in a state correctional facility. However, if the person is at least seven years older than the subject of the <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span> the person shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 30 years in a state correctional facility, five years of which shall be a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment. Any person who commits a second or subsequent violation of this section where the person is at least seven years older than the subject shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years nor more than 40 years, 15 years of which shall be a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment. <a id="paragraph-224046" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2"><p><span class="prefix-number">C2.</span> Any person who violates this section, when the subject of the <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span> is a person at least 15 but less than 18 years of age, shall be punished by not less than one year nor more than 20 years in a state correctional facility. However, if the person is at least seven years older than the subject of the <span class="dictionary">child pornography</span> the person shall be punished by term of imprisonment of not less than three years nor more than 30 years in a state correctional facility, three years of which shall be a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment. Any person who commits a second or subsequent violation of this section when he is at least seven years older than the subject shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years nor more than 30 years, 10 years of which shall be a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment. <a id="paragraph-224047" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3"><p><span class="prefix-number">C3.</span> The mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment prescribed for violations of this section shall be served consecutively with any other sentence. <a id="paragraph-224048" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> For the purposes of this section it may be inferred by text, title or <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> that a person who is depicted as or presents the <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> of being less than 18 years of age in <span class="dictionary">sexually explicit visual material</span> is less than 18 years of age. <a id="paragraph-224049" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> <span class="dictionary">Venue</span> for a <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> under this section may lie in the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> where the unlawful act occurs, where the alleged offender resides, or where any <span class="dictionary">sexually explicit visual material</span> associated with a violation of this section is produced, reproduced, found, stored, or possessed. <a id="paragraph-224050" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1979, c. 348; 1983, c. 524; 1986, c. 585; 1992, c. 234; 1995, c. 839; 2007, cc. 418, 759, 823; 2013, cc. 761, 774; 2015, c. 709; 2020, c. 489; 2024, c. 262.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
