Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-405 (2026)

What constitutes a riot; punishment

✓ current as of May 2026

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Any unlawful use, by three or more persons acting together, of force or violence which seriously jeopardizes the public safety, peace or order is riot.

Every person convicted of participating in any riot shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

If such person carried, at the time of such riot, any firearm or other deadly or dangerous weapon, he shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Code 1950, §§ 18.1-254.1, 18.1-254.2; 1968, c. 460; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 251; 1975, cc. 14, 15.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Schlamp v. State, 891 A.2d 327 (Md. 2006).

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Schlamp v. State, 891 A.2d 327 (Md. 2006). “02; Utah Code Ann § 76-9-101; Va.CodeAnn § 18.2-405.”

United Steelworkers of Am., Etc. v. Dalton, 544 F. Supp. 282 (E.D. Va. 1982). “2-407 can only be taken in conjunction with § 18.2-405, the riot statute, or § 18.2-^406, the unlawful assembly statute.”

Eric Antonio Newsome v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 14× “2-415; and participating in a riot, in violation of Code § 18.2-405. Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions.”

Anderson Wright, s/k/a Anderson Jevon Wright v. City of Virginia Beach (Va. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “Other language in Virginia Beach City Code § 23-10, plainly read, prohibits true threats and fighting words, i.e., “threatening, [or] challenging to fight, .”

Bean (E.D. Va. 2026). · cites it 2× “” 18) “Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-405.” 19) “Va. Code Ann.”

United States v. Grider (D.D.C. 2022). “, Va Code Ann. § 18.2-405 (similar); Del. Code Ann.”

United States v. Doyle (4th Cir. 1996). “1995), assimilating Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-405 (Michie 1988), and assault on a correctional officer, D.”

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