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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65361</law_id><section_number>18.2-52.1</section_number><catch_line>Possession of infectious biological substances or radiological agents; penalties</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>19.2-392.02</reference><reference>65.2-402</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="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Assaults and Bodily Woundings</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person who possesses, with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> thereby to injure another, an <span class="dictionary">infectious biological substance</span> or <span class="dictionary">radiological agent</span> is guilty of a Class 5 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-237627" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-52.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person who (i) destroys or <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, or attempts to destroy or damage, any facility, equipment or <span class="dictionary">material</span> involved in the sale, manufacturing, storage or distribution of an <span class="dictionary">infectious biological substance</span> or <span class="dictionary">radiological agent</span>, with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to injure another by releasing the substance, or (ii) manufactures, sells, gives, distributes or uses an <span class="dictionary">infectious biological substance</span> or <span class="dictionary">radiological agent</span> with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to injure another is guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-237628" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-52.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any person who maliciously and intentionally causes any other person bodily injury by means of an <span class="dictionary">infectious biological substance</span> or <span class="dictionary">radiological agent</span> is guilty of a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> and shall be punished by confinement in a state correctional facility for a period of not less than five years nor more than 30 years. <a id="paragraph-237629" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-52.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> For purposes of this section:
			An &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">infectious biological substance</span>&#x201D; includes any bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or rickettsiae capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Infectious biological substance</span>&#x201D; does not include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other related virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), syphilis, or hepatitis B.
			A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">radiological agent</span>&#x201D; includes any substance able to release radiation at levels that are capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. <a id="paragraph-237630" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-52.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1996, c. 769; 2002, cc. 588, 623, 816; 2004, c. 833; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 465.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
