(a) Whenever complaint is made to any commanding officer that willful damage has been done to the property of any person or that the person's property has been wrongfully taken by members of the state military forces, that person may, under such regulations prescribed, convene a board to investigate the complaint. The board shall consist of from one to three commissioned officers and, for the purpose of that investigation, it has power to summon witnesses and examine them upon oath, to receive depositions or other documentary evidence, and to assess the damages sustained against the responsible parties. The assessment of damages made by the board is subject to the approval of the commanding officer, and in the amount approved by that officer shall be charged against the pay of the offenders. The order of the commanding officer directing charges herein authorized is conclusive on any disbursing officer for payment to the injured parties of the damages so assessed and approved.
(b) If the offenders cannot be ascertained, but the organization or detachment to which they belong is known, charges totaling the amount of damages assessed and approved may be made in such proportion as may be considered just upon the individual members thereof who are shown to have been present at the scene at the time the damages complained of were inflicted, as determined by the approved findings of the board.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 1E. Code of Military Justice
§15-1E-1. Definitions; Gender Neutrality
§15-1E-2. Persons Subject to This Article; Jurisdiction
§15-1E-3. Jurisdiction to Try Certain Personnel
§15-1E-5. Territorial Applicability of the Article
§15-1E-9. Imposition of Restraint
§15-1E-10. Restraint of Persons Charged With Offenses
§15-1E-11. Place of Confinement; Reports and Receiving of Prisoners
§15-1E-12. Confinement With Enemy Prisoners Prohibited
§15-1E-13. Punishment Prohibited Before Trial
§15-1E-14. Delivery of Offenders to Civil Authorities
§15-1E-15. Commanding Officer's Nonjudicial Punishment
§15-1E-16. Courts-Martial Classified
§15-1E-17. Jurisdiction of Courts-Martial in General
§15-1E-18. Jurisdiction of General Courts-Martial
§15-1E-19. Jurisdiction of Special Courts-Martial
§15-1E-20. Jurisdiction of Summary Courts-Martial
§15-1E-22. Who May Convene General Courts-Martial
§15-1E-23. Who May Convene Special Courts-Martial
§15-1E-24. Who May Convene Summary Courts-Martial
§15-1E-25. Who May Serve on Courts-Martial
§15-1E-26. Military Judge of a General or Special Court-Martial
§15-1E-27. Detail of Trial Counsel and Defense Counsel
§15-1E-28. Detail or Employment of Reporters and Interpreters
§15-1E-29. Absent and Additional Members
§15-1E-30. Charges and Specifications
§15-1E-31. Compulsory Self-Incrimination Prohibited
§15-1E-33. Forwarding of Charges
§15-1E-34. Advice of Judge Advocate and Reference for Trial
§15-1E-36. Governor or the Adjutant General May Prescribe Rules
§15-1E-37. Unlawfully Influencing Action of Court
§15-1E-38. Duties of Trial Counsel and Defense Counsel
§15-1E-42. Oaths or Affirmations
§15-1E-43. Statute of Limitations
§15-1E-45. Pleas of the Accused
§15-1E-46. Opportunity to Obtain Witnesses and Other Evidence
§15-1E-47. Refusal to Appear or Testify
§15-1E-50. Admissibility of Records of Courts of Inquiry
§15-1E-50a. Defense of Lack of Mental Responsibility
§15-1E-52. Number of Votes Required
§15-1E-53. Court to Announce Action
§15-1E-55. Cruel and Unusual Punishments Prohibited
§15-1E-57. Effective Date of Sentences
§15-1E-57a. Deferment of Sentences
§15-1E-58. Execution of Confinement
§15-1E-58a. Sentences: Reduction in Enlisted Grade Upon Approval
§15-1E-58b. Sentences: Forfeiture of Pay and Allowances During Confinement
§15-1E-59. Error of Law; Lesser Included Offense
§15-1E-60. Action by the Convening Authority
§15-1E-61. Withdrawal of Appeal
§15-1E-62. Appeal by the State
§15-1E-64. Review by the Senior Force Judge Advocate
§15-1E-65. Disposition of Records After Review by the Convening Authority
§15-1E-67a. Review by State Appellate Authority
§15-1E-71. Execution of Sentence; Suspension of Sentence
§15-1E-72. Vacation of Suspension
§15-1E-73. Petition for a New Trial
§15-1E-74. Remission and Suspension
§15-1E-76. Finality of Proceedings, Findings, and Sentences
§15-1E-76a. Leave Required to Be Taken Pending Review of Certain Court-Martial Convictions
§15-1E-78. Accessory After the Fact
§15-1E-79. Conviction of Lesser Included Offense
§15-1E-83. Fraudulent Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation
§15-1E-84. Unlawful Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation
§15-1E-86. Absence Without Leave
§15-1E-88. Contempt Toward Officials
§15-1E-89. Disrespect Toward Superior Commissioned Officer
§15-1E-90. Assaulting or Willfully Disobeying Superior Commissioned Officer
§15-1E-91. Insubordinate Conduct Toward Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer, or Petty Officer
§15-1E-92. Failure to Obey Order or Regulation
§15-1E-93. Cruelty and Maltreatment
§15-1E-95. Resistance, Flight, Breach of Arrest, and Escape
§15-1E-96. Releasing Prisoner Without Proper Authority
§15-1E-98. Noncompliance With Procedural Rules
§15-1E-99. Misbehavior Before the Enemy
§15-1E-100. Subordinate Compelling Surrender
§15-1E-101. Improper Use of Countersign
§15-1E-102. Forcing a Safeguard
§15-1E-103. Captured or Abandoned Property
§15-1E-105. Misconduct as Prisoner
§15-1E-107. False Official Statements
§15-1E-108. Military Property - Loss, Damage, Destruction, or Wrongful Disposition
§15-1E-109. Property Other Than Military Property - Waste, Spoilage, or Destruction
§15-1E-110. Improper Hazarding of Vessel
§15-1E-112a. Wrongful Use, Possession, etc., of Controlled Substances
§15-1E-113. Misbehavior of Sentinel
§15-1E-116. Riot or Breach of Peace
§15-1E-117. Provoking Speeches or Gestures
§15-1E-132. Frauds Against the Government
§15-1E-133. Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman
§15-1E-136. Authority to Administer Oaths and to Act as Notary
§15-1E-137. Articles to Be Explained
§15-1E-138. Complaints of Wrongs
§15-1E-139. Redress of Injuries to Property
§15-1E-140. Delegation by the Governor
§15-1E-141. Payment of Fees, Costs and Expenses
§15-1E-142. Payment of Fines and Disposition Thereof
§15-1E-143. Uniformity of Interpretation
§15-1E-144. Immunity for Action of Military Courts
§15-1E-147. Time of Taking Effect
§15-1E-148. Supersedes Existing State Military Justice Codes