517.01 Operating a place for or permitting or engaging in prostitution, lewdness or assignation.
517.02 Detention of person in place of prostitution.
517.03 Pandering.
517.04 Pimping.
517.05 Profane swearing and drunkenness.
517.06 Obscene or harassing telephone calls.
517.07 Indecent exposure.
517.08 Invasion of privacy by looking.
517.09 Preparation, distribution or exhibition of obscene matter to minors.
517.10 Sale or display of obscene matter.
517.99 Penalty.
CROSS REFERENCES
See sectional histories for similar State law
Authority to prohibit distribution of obscene literature - see W. Va. Code 8-12-5(17)
Authority to suppress houses of ill fame - see W. Va. Code 8-12-5(18)
Authority to prevent indecent practices - see W. Va. Code 8-12-5(19)
Equitable remedies - see W. Va. Code Art. 61-9
(a) No person shall keep, set up, maintain or operate any house, place, building, hotel, tourist camp, other structure or part thereof, or vehicle, trailer or other conveyance for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness or assignation; or own any place, house, hotel, tourist camp, other structure or part thereof, or trailer or other conveyance knowing the same to be used for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness or assignation, or let, sublet or rent any such place, premises or conveyance to another with knowledge or good reason to know of the intention of the lessee or rentee to use such place, premises or conveyance for prostitution, lewdness or assignation; or offer, or offer to secure another for the purpose of prostitution or for any other lewd or indecent act; or receive or offer or agree to receive any person into any house, place, building, hotel, tourist camp or other structure, or vehicle, trailer or other conveyance for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness or assignation, or permit any person to remain there for such purpose; or for another or others, direct, take or transport, or offer or agree to take or transport, or aid or assist in transporting any person to any house, place, building, hotel, tourist camp, other structure, vehicle, trailer or other conveyance, or to any other person with knowledge or having reasonable cause to believe that the purpose of such directing, taking or transporting is prostitution, lewdness or assignation; or aid, abet or participate in the doing of any acts herein prohibited. Whoever violates this subsection (a) shall, for a first offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) No person shall engage in prostitution, lewdness or assignation, or solicit, induce, entice or procure another to commit an act of prostitution, lewdness or assignation; or reside in, enter or remain in any house, place, building, hotel, tourist camp or other structure, or enter or remain in any vehicle, trailer or other conveyance for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness or assignation; or aid, abet or participate in the doing of any of the acts herein prohibited.
Whoever violates this subsection (b) shall, for a first or second offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor.
The subsequent offense provision shall apply only to the pimp, panderer, solicitor, operator or any person benefiting financially or otherwise from the earnings of a prostitute.
(c) All leases and agreements, oral or written, for letting, subletting or renting any house, place, building, hotel, tourist camp or other structure which is used for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness or assignation, shall be void from and after the date any person who is a party to such an agreement shall be convicted of an offense hereunder. "Tourist camp" includes any temporary or permanent buildings, tents, cabins or structures, or trailers or other vehicles which are maintained, offered or used for dwelling or sleeping quarters for pay.
(d) In the trial of any person charged with a violation of any of the provisions of this section, testimony concerning the reputation or character of any house, place, building, hotel, tourist camp or other structure, and of the person or persons who reside in or frequent them, and of the defendant or defendants, shall be admissible in evidence in support of the charge.
(WVaC 61-8-5)