This bill amends West Virginia Code §61-10-31 to establish specific penalties for conspiracy to commit various degrees of murder and voluntary manslaughter. It introduces new legal language that defines the unlawful act of conspiracy, specifying that it is illegal for two or more persons to conspire to commit an offense against the state or to defraud the state or its entities. The bill clarifies that violations of this section related to felonies will result in felony charges, with penalties ranging from imprisonment in a state correctional facility for one to five years or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Additionally, the bill outlines more severe penalties for conspiracies involving murder and manslaughter. Specifically, it stipulates that conspiracy to commit first-degree murder carries a punishment of five to 25 years, second-degree murder carries three to 15 years, and voluntary manslaughter carries one to eight years in a state correctional facility. The bill also maintains that conspiracies to commit misdemeanors will result in misdemeanor charges, with penalties of up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $1,000. Overall, the bill aims to provide clearer definitions and consequences for conspiracy-related offenses against the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-10-31