Every person who attempts to commit an offense, but fails to commit or is prevented from committing it, shall, where it is not otherwise provided, be punished as follows:
(1) If the offense attempted be punishable with life imprisonment, the person making such attempt shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than three nor more than fifteen years.
(2) If the offense attempted be punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term less than life, such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall, in the discretion of the court, either be imprisoned in the penitentiary for not less than one nor more than three years, or be confined in jail not less than six nor more than twelve months, and fined not exceeding $500.
(3) If the offense attempted be punishable by confinement in jail, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be confined in jail not more than six months, or fined not exceeding $100.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 61. Crimes and Their Punishment
Article 11. General Provisions Concerning Crimes
§61-11-1. Classification of Offenses
§61-11-1a. Sentence of Female Felons
§61-11-2. Capital Punishment Abolished
§61-11-3. Punishment for Common-Law Offenses
§61-11-4. Corruption of Blood and Forfeiture of Estate Abolished
§61-11-5. No Merger of Civil Remedy by Commission of Felony
§61-11-6. Punishment of Principals in the Second Degree and Accessories Before and After the Fact
§61-11-7. Prosecution of Accessories
§61-11-8. Attempts; Classification and Penalties Therefor
§61-11-8a. Solicitation to Commit Certain Felonies; Classification; Defenses
§61-11-9. Limitation of Prosecution; Lost Indictment
§61-11-11. Offense Committed on County Boundary
§61-11-12. Venue of Offense Committed in More Than One County
§61-11-13. Former Acquittal on Merits
§61-11-14. Acquittal for Variance or Insufficient Indictment
§61-11-15. Modes of Conviction of Felony
§61-11-16. Term of Imprisonment for Felony; Indeterminate Sentence
§61-11-17. Court to Fix Imprisonment and Fine for Misdemeanor
§61-11-18. Punishment for Second or Third Offense of Felony
§61-11-19. Procedure in Trial of Persons for Second or Third Offense
§61-11-21. Cumulative Sentences
§61-11-22. Pretrial Diversion Agreements; Conditions; Drug Court Programs
§61-11-22a. Deferred Adjudication
§61-11-24. Offender May Have Credit for Term of Confinement Before Conviction
§61-11-26. Expungement of Certain Criminal Convictions; Procedures; Effect
§61-11-26b. Limitation on Expungement for Certain Motor Vehicle Traffic Control Offenses