Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§926 Art. 126. Arson; burning property with intent to defraud
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 47— - UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - PUNITIVE ARTICLES › § 926
Summary
Anyone under military law who deliberately burns a home or other place while knowing someone is inside commits aggravated arson and can be punished by a military trial. Deliberately burning someone else’s property, or burning property to cheat or defraud, is also punishable.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §926
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Any person subject to this chapter who, willfully and maliciously, burns or sets on fire an inhabited dwelling, or any other structure, movable or immovable, wherein, to the knowledge of that person, there is at the time a human being, is guilty of aggravated arson and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
(b)Any person subject to this chapter who, willfully and maliciously, burns or sets fire to the property of another is guilty of simple arson and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
(c)Any person subject to this chapter who, willfully, maliciously, and with intent to defraud, burns or sets fire to any property shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 926(a)926(b)50:720(a).50:720(b).May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 126), 64 Stat. 141. In subsection (b), the words “of this section” are omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2016—Pub. L. 114–328 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to the offenses of aggravated arson and simple arson.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2016 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–328 effective on Jan. 1, 2019, as designated by the President, with implementing
Regulations
and provisions relating to applicability to various situations, see section 5542 of Pub. L. 114–328 and Ex. Ord. No. 13825, set out as notes under section 801 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 926
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73