(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. (WVaC 61-8-5)
(b) Any person who shall engage in prostitution, lewdness, or assignation, or who shall solicit, induce, entice, or procure another to commit an act of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation; or who shall 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 who shall aid, abet, or participate in the doing of any of the acts herein prohibited, shall, upon conviction for the first offense under this section, be punished by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than thirty days and by a fine of not less than fifty dollars and not to exceed one hundred dollars; and upon conviction for the second offense under this section, be punished by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than thirty days, and by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars.
(Ord. 2014-19. Passed 11-19-14.)
(Ord. 2014-19. Passed 11-19-14.)
(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)