West Virginia law makes some violent threats causing public alarm felonies

A person commits a felony by intentionally communicating a threat of violence that causes severe public alarm or inconvenience, or recklessly disregarding the risk of causing it. The rule covers threats of state crimes that require the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against another person. A threat must be a serious expression of intent to commit a crime involving physical force against another person, and must cause reasonable fear of harm. Upon conviction, a person may be fined $2,500 to $10,000, imprisoned for one to 10 years, or both. The enrolled law took effect 90 days after passage, on June 12, 2026.

A court may bar certain people from living or working within 1,000 feet of where the violence was threatened while they are on release. This applies to people charged with the threat offense who are on pretrial release, and people convicted of it who are released under a suspended sentence, probation, parole, or another listed release. For a threat against an identifiable person, the restriction also covers an area within 1,000 feet of that person's home. The court may impose the restriction; it is not automatic. Any restriction lasts during the person's pretrial, supervised post-conviction, or conditional release.

Before sentencing, a court may order a responding agency or provider that seeks repayment to submit an itemized cost statement, then may order the offender to repay some or all of the costs. This applies when a person is convicted of an offense under this section and a responding law enforcement agency or emergency service provider seeks repayment. The agency or provider must have taken part in the emergency response and wish to seek repayment. The court may order the responder to file its cost statement before sentencing.