This bill seeks to amend the existing law on incest in West Virginia by expanding the definitions of certain relatives involved in the crime. Specifically, it introduces new definitions for "aunt" and "uncle" to include not only blood relatives but also those related by marriage, such as the wife of a person's uncle or aunt and the husband of a person's uncle or aunt. Additionally, the definitions for "niece" and "nephew" are expanded to encompass the spouses of a person's siblings. These changes aim to clarify the legal understanding of familial relationships in the context of incest laws.

The bill maintains the existing penalties for committing incest, which include felony charges and potential imprisonment ranging from 5 to 15 years, along with fines. It also stipulates that if the victim is a minor, the convicted individual may be required to cover the costs of medical or psychological treatment for the victim. Furthermore, if the offender has custodial or parental rights to the child victim, the court is mandated to classify the individual as an abusing parent, triggering additional legal consequences. Overall, the bill aims to modernize and broaden the scope of incest laws to reflect contemporary family structures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-8-12