{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-61-5-17a","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 61-5-17a","heading":"Obstructing a law-enforcement officer, probation officer, parole officer, courthouse security officer, correctional officer, the State Fire Marshal, a deputy or assistant fire marshal, firefighter, or emergency medical service personnel causing death; penalty.","body":"(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, any person who knowingly, willfully, and forcibly obstructs or hinders a law-enforcement officer, probation officer, parole officer, courthouse security officer, correctional officer, the State Fire Marshal, a deputy or assistant fire marshal, firefighter, or emergency medical service personnel lawfully acting in his or her official capacity and thereby proximately causes the death of a law-enforcement officer, probation officer, parole officer, courthouse security officer, correctional officer, the State Fire Marshal, a deputy or assistant fire marshal, firefighter, or emergency medical service personnel so acting, is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a term of 15 years to life.\n(b) For purposes of this section, \"forcibly\" means actions which involve the use of physical force.","path":["CHAPTER 61. CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT.","ARTICLE 5. CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/61-5-17A/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:31:25Z","sha256":"f3390b667ba5c4f4b3eb67c5bc38bb1bed03e5d556a9565dc7e779b1036d0b38","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-61-5-17","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-61-5-18"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}