Chapter 501: General Provisions and Penalty

Sections

Cross references

  • See sectional histories for similar State law
  • Limitation of prosecution for income tax violations - see Ohio R.C. 718.06
  • Modification of sentence - see Ohio R.C. 2929.10(C), (D)
  • Penalty considerations - see Ohio R.C. 2929.22
  • Citation issuance for minor misdemeanors - see Ohio R.C. 2935.26 et seq.

501.01   Definitions

As used in the Codified Ordinances:

  1. (a) “Force” means any violence, compulsion or constraint physically exerted by any means upon or against a person or thing.

  2. (b) “Deadly force” means any force that carries a substantial risk that it will proximately result in the death of any person.

  3. (c) “Physical harm to persons” means any injury, illness or other physiological impairment, regardless of its gravity or duration.

  4. (d) “Physical harm to property” means any tangible or intangible damage to property that, in any degree, results in loss to its value or interferes with its use or enjoyment. “Physical harm to property” does not include wear and tear occasioned by normal use.

  5. (e) “Serious physical harm to persons” means any of the following:

    1. (1) Any mental illness or condition of such gravity as would normally require hospitalization or prolonged psychiatric treatment;

    2. (2) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;

    3. (3) Any physical harm that involves some permanent incapacity, whether partial or total, or that involves some temporary, substantial incapacity;

    4. (4) Any physical harm that involves some permanent disfigurement, or that involves some temporary, serious disfigurement;

    5. (5) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of such duration as to result in substantial suffering, or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.

  6. (f) “Serious physical harm to property” means any physical harm to property that does either of the following:

    1. (1) Results in substantial loss to the value of the property, or requires a substantial amount of time, effort or money to repair or replace;

    2. (2) Temporarily prevents the use or enjoyment of the property, or substantially interferes with its use and enjoyment for an extended period of time.

  7. (g) “Risk” means a significant possibility, as contrasted with a remote possibility, that a certain result may occur or that certain circumstances may exist.

  8. (h) “Substantial risk” means a strong possibility, as contrasted with a remote or significant possibility, that a certain result may occur or that certain circumstances may exist.

  9. (i) “Offense of violence” means any of the following:

    1. (1) A violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.15, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2919.25, 2921.03, 2921.04, 2921.34, 2923.161, 2903.04(A)(1), 2911.12(A)(1) to (3) or 2919.22(B)(1) to (4), or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former Ohio R.C. 2907.12;

    2. (2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, substantially equivalent to any section listed in subsection (i)(1) hereof;

    3. (3) An offense, other than a traffic offense, under an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, committed, purposely or knowingly, and involving physical harm to persons or a risk of serious physical harm to persons;

    4. (4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in committing any offense under subsection (i)(1), (2) or (3) hereof.

  10. (j)

    1. (1)“Property” means any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, and any interest or license in that property. “Property” includes, but is not limited to, cable television service, other telecommunications service, telecommunications devices, information service, computers, data, computer software, financial instruments associated with computers, other documents associated with computers, or copies of the documents, whether in machine or human readable form, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, patents, and property protected by a trademark, copyright, or patent. “Financial instruments associated with computers” include, but are not limited to, checks, drafts, warrants, money orders, notes of indebtedness, certificates of deposit, letters of credit, bills of credit or debit cards, financial transaction authorization mechanisms, marketable securities, or any computer system representations of any of them.

    2. (2) As used in this section, “trade secret” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 1333.61, and “telecommunications service” and “information service” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.

    3. (3) As used in this section, “cable television service”, “computer”, “computer software”, “computer system”, “computer network”, “data”, and “telecommunications device” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.

  11. (k) “Law enforcement officer” means any of the following:

    1. (1) A sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer of a township or joint police district, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under Ohio R.C. 3735.31(D) or State highway patrol trooper;

    2. (2) An officer, agent or employee of the State or any of its agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, upon whom, by statute, Charter or ordinance, a duty to conserve the peace or to enforce all or certain laws is imposed and the authority to arrest violators is conferred, within the limits of that statutory duty and authority;

    3. (3) A mayor or manager in the mayor’s or manager’s capacity as chief conservator of the peace within the mayor’s or manager’s municipal corporation;

    4. (4) A member of an auxiliary police force organized by county, township or municipal law enforcement authorities, within the scope of the member’s appointment or commission;

    5. (5) A person lawfully called pursuant to Ohio R.C. 311.07 to aid a sheriff in keeping the peace, for the purposes and during the time when the person is called;

    6. (6) A person appointed by a mayor pursuant to Ohio R.C. 737.01 as a special patrolling officer during riot or emergency, for the purposes and during the time when the person is appointed;

    7. (7) A member of the organized militia of this State or the armed forces of the United States, lawfully called to duty to aid civil authorities in keeping the peace or protect against domestic violence;

    8. (8) A prosecuting attorney, assistant prosecuting attorney, secret service officer or municipal prosecutor;

    9. (9) A veterans’ home police officer appointed under Ohio R.C. 5907.02;

    10. (10) A member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under Ohio R.C. 306.35(Y);

    11. (11) A special police officer employed by a port authority under Ohio R.C. 4582.04 or 4582.28;

    12. (12) The Senate Sergeant of Arms and or Assistant Sergeant at Arms;

    13. (13) A special police officer employed by a municipal corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined in Section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required to be under a security program and is governed by aviation security rules of the transportation security administration of the United States Department of Transportation as provided in Parts 1542 and 1544 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended.

  12. (l) “Privilege” means an immunity, license or right conferred by law, or bestowed by express or implied grant, or arising out of status, position, office or relationship, or growing out of necessity.

  13. (m) “Contraband” means any property that is illegal for a person to acquire or possess under a statute, ordinance, or rule, or that a trier of fact lawfully determines to be illegal to possess by reason of the property’s involvement in an offense. “Contraband” includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

    1. (1) Any controlled substance, as defined in Ohio R.C. 3719.01, or any device, or paraphernalia;

    2. (2) Any unlawful gambling device, or paraphernalia;

    3. (3) Any dangerous ordnance or obscene material.

  14. (n) A person is “not guilty by reason of insanity” relative to a charge of an offense only if the person proves, in the manner specified in Ohio R.C. 2901.05, that at the time of the commission of the offense, the person did not know, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, the wrongfulness of the person’s acts.

  15. (o)

    1. (1)

      1. (A) Subject to subsection (o)(2) hereof, as used in any section contained in Part Five - General Offenses Code that sets forth a criminal offense, “person” includes all of the following:

        1. (1) An individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association;

        2. (2) An unborn human who is viable.

      2. (B) As used in any section contained in Part Five - General Offenses Code that does not set forth a criminal offense, “person” includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership and association.

      3. (C) As used in subsection (o)(1)A. hereof:

        1. (1) “Unborn human” means an individual organism of the species Homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth.

        2. (2) “Viable” means the stage of development of a human fetus at which there is a realistic possibility of maintaining and nourishing of a life outside the womb with or without temporary artificial life-sustaining support.

    2. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (o)(1)A. hereof, in no case shall the portion of the definition of the term “person” that is set forth in subsection (o)(1)A.2. hereof be applied or construed in any section contained in Part Five - General Offenses Code that sets forth a criminal offense in any of the following manners:

      1. (A) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (o)(2)A. hereof, in a manner so that the offense prohibits or is construed as prohibiting any pregnant woman or her physician from performing an abortion with the consent of the pregnant woman, with the consent of the pregnant woman implied by law in a medical emergency, or with the approval of one otherwise authorized by law to consent to medical treatment on behalf of the pregnant woman. An abortion that violates the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence may be punished as a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.05, 2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.14, 2903.21, or 2903.22, as applicable. An abortion that does not violate the conditions described in the second immediately preceding sentence, but that does violate Ohio R.C. 2919.12, division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2919.13, or Ohio R.C. 2919.151, 2919.17 or 2919.18, may be punished as a violation of Ohio R.C. 2919.12, division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2919.13, or Ohio R.C. 2919.151, 2919.17 or 2919.18, as applicable. Consent is sufficient under this subsection if it is of the type otherwise adequate to permit medical treatment to the pregnant woman, even if it does not comply with Ohio R.C. 2919.12.

      2. (B) In a manner so that the offense is applied or is construed as applying to a woman based on an act or omission of the woman that occurs while she is or was pregnant and that results in any of the following:

        1. (1) Her delivery of a stillborn baby;

        2. (2) Her causing, in any other manner, the death in utero of a viable, unborn human that she is carrying;

        3. (3) Her causing the death of her child who is born alive but who dies from one or more injuries that are sustained while the child is a viable, unborn human;

        4. (4) Her causing her child who is born alive to sustain one or more injuries while the child is a viable, unborn human;

        5. (5) Her causing, threatening to cause, or attempting to cause, in any other manner, an injury, illness or other physiological impairment, regardless of its duration or gravity, or a mental illness or condition, regardless of its duration or gravity, to a viable, unborn human that she is carrying.

  16. (p) “School safety zone” consists of a school, school building, school premises, school activity, and school bus.

  17. (q) “School”, “school building” and “school premises” have the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01.

  18. (r) “School activity” means any activity held under the auspices of a board of education of a city, local, exempted village, joint vocational, or cooperative education school district; a governing authority of a community school established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3314; a governing body of an educational service center; or the governing body of a nonpublic school for which the State Board of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07.

  19. (s) “School bus” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01. (ORC 2901.01)

501.02   Classification of offenses

As used in the Codified Ordinances:

  1. (a) Offenses include misdemeanors of the first, second, third and fourth degree, minor misdemeanors and offenses not specifically classified.

  2. (b) Regardless of the penalty that may be imposed, any offense specifically classified as a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor.

  3. (c) Any offense not specifically classified is a misdemeanor if imprisonment for not more than one year may be imposed as a penalty.

  4. (d) Any offense not specifically classified is a minor misdemeanor if the only penalty that may be imposed is one of the following:

    1. (1) For an offense committed prior to January 1, 2004, a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00);

    2. (2) For an offense committed on or after January 1, 2004, a fine not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), community service under division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2929.27, or a financial sanction other than a fine under Ohio R.C. 2929.28.
      (ORC 2901.02)

501.03   Common law offenses abrogated

  1. (a) No conduct constitutes a criminal offense against the Municipality unless it is defined as an offense in the Codified Ordinances or any other Municipal ordinance.

  2. (b) An offense is defined when one or more sections of the Codified Ordinances state a positive prohibition or enjoin a specific duty, and provide a penalty for violation of such prohibition or failure to meet such duty.

  3. (c) This section does not affect the power of a court to punish for contempt or to employ any sanction authorized by law to enforce an order, civil judgment or decree.
    (ORC 2901.03)

501.04   Rules of construction

  1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) hereof, sections of the Codified Ordinances defining offenses or penalties shall be strictly construed against the Municipality and liberally construed in favor of the accused.

  2. (b) Rules of criminal procedure and sections of the Ohio Revised Code providing for criminal procedure shall be construed so as to effect the fair, impartial, speedy and sure administration of justice.

  3. (c) Any provision of a section of the Codified Ordinances that refers to a previous conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of a section of the Codified Ordinances or Ohio Revised Code or of a division of a section of the Codified Ordinances or Ohio Revised Code shall be construed to also refer to a previous conviction of or plea of guilty to a substantially equivalent offense under an existing or former law of this State, another state, or the United States or under an existing or former municipal ordinance.

  4. (d) Any provision of the Codified Ordinances that refers to a section, or to a division of a section, of the Codified Ordinances that defines or specifies a criminal offense shall be construed to also refer to an existing or former law of this State, another state, or the United States, to an existing or former municipal ordinance, or to an existing or former division of any such existing or former law or ordinance that defines or specifies, or that defined or specified, a substantially equivalent offense.
    (ORC 2901.04)

501.05   Criminal law jurisdiction

  1. (a) A person is subject to misdemeanor prosecution and punishment in this Municipality if any of the following occur:

    1. (1) The person commits an offense under the laws of this Municipality, any element of which takes place in this Municipality.

    2. (2) While in this Municipality, the person attempts to commit, or is guilty of complicity in the commission of, an offense in another jurisdiction, which offense is an offense under both the laws of this Municipality or this State and the other jurisdiction, or, while in this Municipality, the person conspires to commit an offense in another jurisdiction, which offense is an offense under both the laws of this Municipality or this State and the other jurisdiction, and a substantial overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy is undertaken in this Municipality by the person or another person involved in the conspiracy, subsequent to the person’s entrance into the conspiracy. In any case in which a person attempts to commit, is guilty of complicity in the commission of, or conspires to commit an offense in another jurisdiction as described in this subsection, the person is subject to criminal prosecution and punishment in this Municipality for the attempt, complicity, or conspiracy, and for any resulting offense that is committed or completed in the other jurisdiction.

    3. (3) While out of this Municipality, the person conspires or attempts to commit, or is guilty of complicity in the commission of, an offense in this Municipality.

    4. (4) While out of this Municipality, the person omits to perform a legal duty imposed by the laws of this Municipality, which omission affects a legitimate interest of the Municipality in protecting, governing or regulating any person, property, thing, transaction or activity in this Municipality.

    5. (5) While out of this Municipality, the person unlawfully takes or retains property and subsequently brings any of the unlawfully taken or retained property into this Municipality.

    6. (6) While out of this Municipality, the person unlawfully takes or entices another and subsequently brings the other person into this Municipality.

    7. (7) The person, by means of a computer, computer system, computer network, telecommunication, telecommunications device, telecommunications service, or information service, causes or knowingly permits any writing, data, image, or other telecommunication to be disseminated or transmitted into this Municipality in violation of the law of this Municipality.

  2. (b) This Municipality includes the land and water within its boundaries and the air space above such land and water, and real property outside the corporate limits, with respect to which this Municipality has either exclusive or concurrent legislative jurisdiction. Where the boundary between this Municipality and another jurisdiction is disputed, the disputed territory is conclusively presumed to be within this Municipality for purposes of this section.

  3. (c) When an offense is committed under the laws of this Municipality, and it appears beyond a reasonable doubt that the offense or any element of the offense took place either in this Municipality or in another jurisdiction or jurisdictions, but it cannot reasonably be determined in which it took place, the offense or element is conclusively presumed to have taken place in this Municipality for purposes of this section.

  4. (d) When a person is subject to criminal prosecution and punishment in this Municipality for an offense committed or completed outside of this Municipality, the person is subject to all specifications for that offense that would be applicable if the offense had been committed within this Municipality.

  5. (e) Any act, conduct, or element that is a basis of a person being subject under this section to criminal prosecution and punishment in this Municipality need not be committed personally by the person as long as it is committed by another person who is in complicity or conspiracy with the person.

  6. (f) This section shall be liberally construed, consistent with constitutional limitations, to allow this Municipality the broadest possible jurisdiction over offenses and persons committing offenses in, or affecting, this Municipality.

  7. (g) For purposes of subsection (a)(2) of this section, an overt act is substantial when it is of a character that manifests a purpose on the part of the actor that the object of the conspiracy should be completed.

  8. (h) As used in this section, “computer”, “computer system”, “computer network”, “information service”, “telecommunication”, “telecommunications device”, “telecommunications service”, “data”, and “writing” have the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.
    (ORC 2901.11)

501.06   Limitation of criminal prosecution

  1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a prosecution shall be barred unless it is commenced within the following periods after an offense is committed:

    1. (1) For misdemeanor other than a minor misdemeanor, two years;

    2. (2) For a minor misdemeanor, six months.

  2. (b) If the period of limitation provided in subsection (a) hereof has expired, prosecution shall be commenced for an offense of which an element is fraud or breach of a fiduciary duty, within one year after discovery of the offense either by an aggrieved person, or by his legal representative who is not himself a party to the offense.

  3. (c)

    1. (1) If the period of limitation provided in this section has expired, prosecution shall be commenced for the following offenses during the following specified periods of time:

      1. (A) For an offense involving misconduct in office by a public servant at any time while the accused remains a public servant, or within two years thereafter;

      2. (B) For an offense by a person who is not a public servant but whose offense is directly related to the misconduct in office of a public servant, at any time while that public servant remains a public servant, or within two years thereafter.

    2. (2) As used in this subsection:

      1. (A) An “offense is directly related to the misconduct in office of a public servant” includes, but is not limited to, a violation of Ohio R.C. 101.71, 101.91, 121.61 or 2921.13, division (F) or (H) of Ohio R.C. 102.03, division (A) of Ohio R.C. 2921.02, division (A) or (B) of Ohio R.C. 2921.43, or division (F) or (G) of Ohio R.C. 3517.13, that is directly related to an offense involving misconduct in office of a public servant.

      2. (B) “Public servant” has the same meaning as in Section 525.01.

  4. (d) An offense is committed when every element of the offense occurs. In the case of an offense of which an element is a continuing course of conduct, the period of limitation does not begin to run until such course of conduct or the accused’s accountability for it terminates, whichever occurs first.

  5. (e) A prosecution is commenced on the date an indictment is returned or an information filed, or on the date a lawful arrest without a warrant is made, or on the date a warrant, summons, citation or other process is issued, whichever occurs first. A prosecution is not commenced by the return of an indictment or the filing of an information unless reasonable diligence is exercised to issue and execute process on the same. A prosecution is not commenced upon issuance of a warrant, summons, citation or other process, unless reasonable diligence is exercised to execute the same.

  6. (f) The period of limitation shall not run during any time when the corpus delicti remains undiscovered.

  7. (g) The period of limitation shall not run during any time when the accused purposely avoids prosecution. Proof that the accused absented himself from this Municipality or concealed his identity or whereabouts is prima-facie evidence of his purpose to avoid prosecution.

  8. (h) The period of limitation shall not run during any time a prosecution against the accused based on the same conduct is pending in this State, even though the indictment, information or process that commenced the prosecution is quashed or the proceedings on the indictment, information or process are set aside or reversed on appeal.

  9. (i) The period of limitation for a violation of any provision of this General Offenses Code that involves a physical or mental wound, injury, disability or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of a child under eighteen years of age or of a child with a developmental disability or physical impairment under twenty-one years of age shall not begin to run until either of the following occurs:

    1. (1) The victim of the offense reaches the age of majority.

    2. (2) A public children services agency, or a municipal or county peace officer that is not the parent or guardian of the child, in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred has been notified that abuse or neglect is known, suspected, or believed to have occurred.
      (ORC 2901.13)

  10. (j) This section shall not apply to prosecutions commenced within the period of limitations set forth in Ohio R.C. 718.12(B) for violations of the Municipal income tax ordinance.

501.07   Requirements for criminal liability

  1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) hereof, a person is not guilty of an offense unless both of the following apply:

    1. (1) The person’s liability is based on conduct that includes either a voluntary act, or an omission to perform an act or duty that the person is capable of performing;

    2. (2) The person has the requisite degree of culpability for each element as to which a culpable mental state is specified by the language defining the offense.

  2. (b) When the language defining an offense does not specify any degree of culpability, and plainly indicates a purpose to impose strict criminal liability for the conduct described in the section, then culpability is not required for a person to be guilty of the offense. The fact that one subsection of a section plainly indicates a purpose to impose strict liability for an offense defined in that subsection does not by itself plainly indicate a purpose to impose strict criminal liability for an offense defined in other subsections of the section that do not specify a degree of culpability.

  3. (c)

    1. (1) When language defining an element of an offense that is related to knowledge or intent or to which mens rea could fairly be applied neither specifies culpability nor plainly indicates a purpose to impose strict liability, the element of the offense is established only if a person acts recklessly.

    2. (2) Subsection (c)(1) of this section does not apply to offenses defined in the Traffic Code.

    3. (3) Subsection (c)(1) of this section does not relieve the prosecution of the burden of proving the culpable mental state required by any definition incorporated into the offense.

  4. (d) Voluntary intoxication may not be taken into consideration in determining the existence of a mental state that is an element of a criminal offense. Voluntary intoxication does not relieve a person of a duty to act if failure to act constitutes a criminal offense. Evidence that a person was voluntarily intoxicated may be admissible to show whether or not the person was physically capable of performing the act with which the person is charged.

  5. (e) As used in this section:

    1. (1) Possession is a voluntary act if the possessor knowingly procured or received the thing possessed, or was aware of the possessor’s control of the thing possessed for a sufficient time to have ended possession.

    2. (2) Reflexes, convulsions, body movements during unconsciousness or sleep, and body movements that are not otherwise a product of the actor’s volition, are involuntary acts.

    3. (3) “Culpability” means purpose, knowledge, recklessness or negligence, as defined in Section 501.08.

    4. (4) “Intoxication” includes, but is not limited to, intoxication resulting from the ingestion of alcohol, a drug, or alcohol and a drug.
      (ORC 2901.21)

501.08   Culpable mental states

  1. (a) A person acts purposely when it is the person’s specific intention to cause a certain result, or when the gist of the offense is a prohibition against conduct of a certain nature, regardless of what the offender intends to accomplish thereby, it is the offender’s specific intention to engage in conduct of that nature.

  2. (b) A person acts knowingly, regardless of purpose, when the person is aware that the person’s conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances probably exist.

    When knowledge of the existence of a particular fact is an element of an offense, such knowledge is established if a person subjectively believes that there is a high probability of its existence and fails to make inquiry or acts with a conscious purpose to avoid learning the fact.

  3. (c) A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, the person perversely disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the person’s conduct is likely to cause a certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A person is reckless with respect to circumstances when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, the person perversely disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such circumstances are likely to exist.

  4. (d) A person acts negligently when, because of a substantial lapse from due care, the person fails to perceive or avoid a risk that the person’s conduct may cause a certain result or may be of a certain nature. A person is negligent with respect to circumstances when, because of a substantial lapse from due care, the person fails to perceive or avoid a risk that such circumstances may exist.

  5. (e) When the section defining an offense provides that negligence suffices to establish an element thereof, then recklessness, knowledge or purpose is also sufficient culpability for such element. When recklessness suffices to establish an element of an offense, then knowledge or purpose is also sufficient culpability for such element. When knowledge suffices to establish an element of an offense, then purpose is also sufficient culpability for such element.
    (ORC 2901.22)

501.09   Attempt

  1. (a) No person, purposely or knowingly, and when purpose or knowledge is sufficient culpability for the commission of an offense, shall engage in conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in the offense.

  2. (b) It is no defense to a charge under this section that, in retrospect, commission of the offense that was the object of the attempt was either factually or legally impossible under the attendant circumstances, if that offense could have been committed had the attendant circumstances been as the actor believed them to be.

  3. (c) No person who is convicted of committing a specific offense or of complicity in the commission of an offense, shall be convicted of an attempt to commit the same offense in violation of this section.

  4. (d) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the actor abandoned the actor’s effort to commit the offense or otherwise prevented its commission, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of the actor’s criminal purpose.

  5. (e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of an attempt to commit an offense. An attempt to commit a drug abuse offense for which the penalty is determined by the amount or number of unit doses of the controlled substance involved in the drug abuse offense is an offense of the same degree as the drug abuse offense attempted would be if that drug abuse offense had been committed and had involved an amount or number of unit doses of the controlled substance that is within the next lower range of controlled substance amounts than was involved in the attempt. An attempt to commit any other misdemeanor is a misdemeanor of the next lesser degree than the misdemeanor attempted. In the case of an attempt to commit an offense other than a violation of Ohio R.C. Chapter 3734 that is not specifically classified, an attempt is a misdemeanor of the first degree if the offense attempted is a felony under the Ohio Revised Code, and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if the offense attempted is a misdemeanor. An attempt to commit a minor misdemeanor is not an offense under this section.

  6. (f) As used in this section, “drug abuse offense” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01.
    (ORC 2923.02)

501.10   Complicity

  1. (a) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following:

    1. (1) Solicit or procure another to commit the offense;

    2. (2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense;

    3. (3) Cause an innocent or irresponsible person to commit the offense.

  2. (b) It is no defense to a charge under this section that no person with whom the accused was in complicity has been convicted as a principal offender.

  3. (c) No person shall be convicted of complicity under this section unless an offense is actually committed, but a person may be convicted of complicity in an attempt to commit an offense in violation of Section 501.09.

  4. (d) If an alleged accomplice of the defendant testifies against the defendant in a case in which the defendant is charged with complicity in the commission of or an attempt to commit an offense, an attempt to commit an offense or an offense, the court when it charges the jury, shall state substantially the following:

    “The testimony of an accomplice does not become inadmissible because of his complicity, moral turpitude or self-interest, but the admitted or claimed complicity of a witness may affect his credibility and make his testimony subject to grave suspicion, and require that it be weighed with great caution.

    “It is for you, as jurors, in the light of all the facts presented to you from the witness stand, to evaluate such testimony and to determine its quality and worth or its lack of quality and worth.”

  5. (e) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that, prior to the commission of or attempt to commit the offense, the actor terminated his complicity, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of his criminal purpose.

  6. (f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of complicity in the commission of an offense, and shall be prosecuted and punished as if he were a principal offender. A charge of complicity may be stated in terms of this section, or in terms of the principal offense.
    (ORC 2923.03)

501.11   Organizational criminal liability

  1. (a) An organization may be convicted of an offense under any of the following circumstances:

    1. (1) The offense is a minor misdemeanor committed by an officer, agent or employee of the organization acting in its behalf and within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s or employee’s office or employment, except that if the section defining the offense designates the officers, agents or employees for whose conduct the organization is accountable or the circumstances under which it is accountable, those provisions shall apply.

    2. (2) A purpose to impose organizational liability plainly appears in the section defining the offense, and the offense is committed by an officer, agent or employee of the organization acting in its behalf and within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s or employee’s office or employment, except that if the section defining the offense designates the officers, agents or employees for whose conduct the organization is accountable or the circumstances under which it is accountable, those provisions shall apply.

    3. (3) The offense consists of an omission to discharge a specific duty imposed by law on the organization.

    4. (4) If, acting with the kind of culpability otherwise required for the commission of the offense, its commission was authorized, requested, commanded, tolerated or performed by the board of directors, trustees, partners or by a high managerial officer, agent or employee acting in behalf of the organization and within the scope of such a board’s or person’s office or employment.

  2. (b) If strict liability is imposed for the commission of an offense, a purpose to impose organizational liability shall be presumed, unless the contrary plainly appears.

  3. (c) In a prosecution of an organization for an offense other than one for which strict liability is imposed, it is a defense that the high managerial officer, agent or employee having supervisory responsibility over the subject matter of the offense exercised due diligence to prevent its commission. This defense is not available if it plainly appears inconsistent with the purpose of the section defining the offense.

  4. (d) As used in this section, “organization” means a corporation for profit or not for profit, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, unincorporated nonprofit association, estate, trust or other commercial or legal entity. “Organization” does not include an entity organized as or by a governmental agency for the execution of a governmental program.
    (ORC 2901.23)

501.12   Personal accountability for organizational conduct

  1. (a) An officer, agent or employee of an organization as defined in Section 501.11 may be prosecuted for an offense committed by such organization, if he acts with the kind of culpability required for the commission of the offense, and any of the following apply:

    1. (1) In the name of the organization or in its behalf, he engages in conduct constituting the offense, or causes another to engage in such conduct, or tolerates such conduct when it is of a type for which he has direct responsibility;

    2. (2) He has primary responsibility to discharge a duty imposed on the organization by law, and such duty is not discharged.

  2. (b) When a person is convicted of an offense by reason of this section, he is subject to the same penalty as if he had acted in his own behalf.
    (ORC 2901.24)

501.13   Conspiracy

  1. (a) No person, with purpose to commit or to promote or facilitate the commission of aggravated murder, murder, kidnapping, abduction, compelling prostitution, promoting prostitution, trafficking in persons, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, burglary, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, corrupting another with drugs, a felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense, theft of drugs, or illegal processing of drug documents, the commission of a felony offense of unauthorized use of a vehicle, illegally transmitting multiple commercial electronic mail messages or unauthorized access of a computer in violation of Ohio R.C. 2923.421 or the commission of a violation of any provision of Ohio R.C. Chapter 3734, other than Ohio R.C. 3734.18, that relates to hazardous wastes, shall do either of the following:

    1. (1) With another person or persons, plan or aid in planning the commission of any of the specified offenses;

    2. (2) Agree with another person or persons that one or more of them will engage in conduct that facilitates the commission of any of the specified offenses.

  2. (b) No person shall be convicted of conspiracy unless a substantial overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy is alleged and proved to have been done by the accused or a person with whom the accused conspired, subsequent to the accused’s entrance into the conspiracy. For purposes of this section, an overt act is substantial when it is of a character that manifests a purpose on the part of the actor that the object of the conspiracy should be completed.

  3. (c) When the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a person with whom the offender conspires also has conspired or is conspiring with another to commit the same offense, the offender is guilty of conspiring with that other person, even though the other person’s identity may be unknown to the offender.

  4. (d) It is no defense to a charge under this section that, in retrospect, commission of the offense that was the object of the conspiracy was impossible under the circumstances.

  5. (e) A conspiracy terminates when the offense or offenses that are its objects are committed or when it is abandoned by all conspirators. In the absence of abandonment, it is no defense to a charge under this section that no offense that was the object of the conspiracy was committed.

  6. (f) A person who conspires to commit more than one offense is guilty of only one conspiracy, when the offenses are the object of the same agreement or continuous conspiratorial relationship.

  7. (g) When a person is convicted of committing or attempting to commit a specific offense or of complicity in the commission of or attempt to commit the specific offense, the person shall not be convicted of conspiracy involving the same offense.

  8. (h)

    1. (1) No person shall be convicted of conspiracy upon the testimony of a person with whom the defendant conspired, unsupported by other evidence.

    2. (2) If a person with whom the defendant allegedly has conspired testifies against the defendant in a case in which the defendant is charged with conspiracy and if the testimony is supported by other evidence, the court, when it charges the jury, shall state substantially the following:

      “The testimony of an accomplice that is supported by other evidence does not become inadmissible because of the accomplice’s complicity, moral turpitude, or self-interest, but the admitted or claimed complicity of a witness may affect the witness’ credibility and make the witness’ testimony subject to grave suspicion, and requires that it be weighed with great caution. It is for you, as jurors, in light of all the facts presented to you from the witness stand, to evaluate such testimony and to determine its quality and worth or its lack of quality and worth”.

    3. (3) “Conspiracy”, as used in subsection (h)(1) of this section, does not include any conspiracy that results in an attempt to commit an offense or in the commission of an offense.

  9. (i) The following are affirmative defenses to a charge of conspiracy:

    1. (1) After conspiring to commit an offense, the actor thwarted the success of the conspiracy under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of the actor’s criminal purpose.

    2. (2) After conspiring to commit an offense, the actor abandoned the conspiracy prior to the commission of or attempt to commit any offense that was the object of the conspiracy, either by advising all other conspirators of the actor’s abandonment, or by informing any law enforcement authority of the existence of the conspiracy and of the actor’s participation in the conspiracy.

  10. (j) Whoever violates this section is guilty of conspiracy, which is a misdemeanor of the first degree, when the most serious offense that is the object of the conspiracy is a felony of the fifth degree.

  11. (k) This section does not define a separate conspiracy offense or penalty where conspiracy is defined as an offense by one or more sections of this Code, other than this section. In such a case, however:

    1. (1) With respect to the offense specified as the object of the conspiracy in the other section or sections, subsection (a) hereof defines the voluntary act or acts and culpable mental state necessary to constitute the conspiracy;

    2. (2) Subsections (b) to (i) hereof are incorporated by reference in the conspiracy offense defined by the other section or sections of this Code.

  12. (l)

    1. (1) In addition to the penalties that otherwise are imposed for conspiracy, a person who is found guilty of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity is subject to divisions (B)(2) and (3) of Ohio R.C. 2923.32, division (A) of Ohio R.C. 2981.04 and division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2981.06.

    2. (2) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to conspiracy and if the most serious offense that is the object of the conspiracy is a felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense, in addition to the penalties or sanctions that may be imposed for the conspiracy under subsection (j) hereof and Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929, both of the following apply:

      1. (A) The provisions of divisions (D), (F) and (G) of Ohio R.C. 2925.03, division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2925.04, division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2925.05, division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2925.06 and division (E) of Ohio R.C. 2925.11 that pertain to mandatory and additional fines, driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit suspensions, and professionally licensed persons and that would apply under the appropriate provisions of those divisions to a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing, or possession offense that is the most serious offense that is the basis of the conspiracy shall apply to the person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the conspiracy as if the person had been convicted or pleaded guilty to the felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense that is the most serious offense that is the basis of the conspiracy.

      2. (B) The court that imposes sentence upon the person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the conspiracy shall comply with the provisions identified as being applicable under subsection (l)(2) of this section, in addition to any other penalty or sanction that it imposes for the conspiracy under subsection (j) of this section and Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929.

  13. (m) As used in this section:

    1. (1) “Felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense” means any of the following that is a felony:

      1. (A) A violation of Ohio R.C. 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, or 2925.06;

      2. (B) A violation of Ohio R.C. 2925.11 that is not a minor drug possession offense.

    2. (2) “Minor drug possession offense” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01.
      (ORC 2923.01)

501.99   Penalties for misdemeanors

  1. (a) Financial Sanctions. In addition to imposing court costs pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2947.23, the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor committed under the Codified Ordinances, including a minor misdemeanor, may sentence the offender to any financial sanction or combination of financial sanctions authorized under this section. If the court in its discretion imposes one or more financial sanctions, the financial sanctions that may be imposed pursuant to this section include, but are not limited to, the following:

    1. (1) Restitution.

      1. (A) Unless the misdemeanor offense is a minor misdemeanor or could be disposed of by the traffic violations bureau serving the court under Traffic Rule 13, restitution by the offender to the victim of the offender’s crime or any survivor of the victim, in an amount based on the victim’s economic loss. The court may not impose restitution as a sanction pursuant to this section if the offense is a minor misdemeanor or could be disposed of by the traffic violations bureau serving the court under Traffic Rule 13. If the court requires restitution, the court shall order that the restitution be made to the victim in open court or to the adult probation department that serves the jurisdiction or the clerk of the court on behalf of the victim.

      2. (B) If the court imposes restitution, the court shall determine the amount of restitution to be paid by the offender. If the court imposes restitution, the court may base the amount of restitution it orders on an amount recommended by the victim, the offender, a presentence investigation report, estimates or receipts indicating the cost of repairing or replacing property, and other information, provided that the amount the court orders as restitution shall not exceed the amount of economic loss suffered by the victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of the offense. If the court imposes restitution for the cost of accounting or auditing done to determine the extent of economic loss, the court may order restitution for any amount of the victim’s costs of accounting or auditing provided that the amount of restitution is reasonable and does not exceed the value of property or services stolen or damaged as a result of the offense. If the court decides to impose restitution, the court shall hold an evidentiary hearing on restitution if the offender, victim, or survivor disputes the amount of restitution. If the court holds an evidentiary hearing, at the hearing the victim or survivor has the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence the amount of restitution sought from the offender.

      3. (C) All restitution payments shall be credited against any recovery of economic loss in a civil action brought by the victim or any survivor of the victim against the offender. No person may introduce evidence of an award of restitution under this section in a civil action for purposes of imposing liability against an insurer under Ohio R.C. 3937.18.

      4. (D) If the court imposes restitution, the court may order that the offender pay a surcharge, of not more than five per cent of the amount of the restitution otherwise ordered, to the entity responsible for collecting and processing restitution payments.

      5. (E) The victim or survivor may request that the prosecutor in the case file a motion, or the offender may file a motion, for modification of the payment terms of any restitution ordered. If the court grants the motion, it may modify the payment terms as it determines appropriate.

    2. (2) Fines. A fine in the following amount:

      1. (A) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000);

      2. (B) For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00);

      3. (C) For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00);

      4. (D) For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00);

      5. (E) For a minor misdemeanor, not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

    3. (3) Reimbursement of costs of sanctions.

      1. (A) Reimbursement by the offender of any or all of the costs of sanctions incurred by the government, including, but not limited to, the following:

        1. (1) All or part of the costs of implementing any community control sanction, including a supervision fee under Ohio R.C. 2951.021;

        2. (2) All or part of the costs of confinement in a jail or other residential facility, including, but not limited to, a per diem fee for room and board, the costs of medical and dental treatment, and the costs of repairing property damaged by the offender while confined.

      2. (B) The amount of reimbursement ordered under subsection (a)(3)A. of this section shall not exceed the total amount of reimbursement the offender is able to pay and shall not exceed the actual cost of the sanctions. The court may collect any amount of reimbursement the offender is required to pay under that subsection. If the court does not order reimbursement under that subsection, confinement costs may be assessed pursuant to a repayment policy adopted under Ohio R.C. 2929.37. In addition, the offender may be required to pay the fees specified in Ohio R.C. 2929.38 in accordance with that section.
        (ORC 2929.28)

  2. (b) Jail Terms.

    1. (1) Except as provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.22 or 2929.23 of the Revised Code, and unless another term is required or authorized pursuant to law, if the sentencing court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor elects or is required to impose a jail term on the offender pursuant to this General Offenses Code, the court shall impose a definite jail term that shall be one of the following:

      1. (A) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than one hundred eighty days;

      2. (B) For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than ninety days;

      3. (C) For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than sixty days;

      4. (D) For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than thirty days.

    2. (2)

      1. (A) A court that sentences an offender to a jail term under this section may permit the offender to serve the sentenced in intermittent confinement or may authorize a limited release of the offender as provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.26(B). The court retains jurisdiction over every offender sentenced to jail to modify the jail sentence imposed at any time, but the court shall not reduce any mandatory jail term.

      2. (B)

        1. (1) If a prosecutor, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2935.01, has filed a notice with the court that the prosecutor wants to be notified about a particular case and if the court is considering modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, the court shall notify the prosecutor that the court is considering modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case. The prosecutor may request a hearing regarding the court’s consideration of modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, and, if the prosecutor requests a hearing, the court shall notify the eligible offender of the hearing.

        2. (2) If the prosecutor requests a hearing regarding the court’s consideration of modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, the court shall hold the hearing before considering whether or not to release the offender from the offender’s jail sentence.

    3. (3) If a court sentences an offender to a jail term under this section and the court assigns the offender to a county jail that has established a county jail industry program pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5147.30, the court shall specify, as part of the sentence, whether the offender may be considered for participation in the program. During the offender’s term in the county jail, the court retains jurisdiction to modify its specification regarding the offender’s participation in the county jail industry program.

    4. (4) If a person is sentenced to a jail term pursuant to this section, the court may impose as part of the sentence pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2929.28 a reimbursement sanction, and, if the local detention facility in which the term is to be served is covered by a policy adopted pursuant to Ohio R.C. 307.93, 341.14, 341.19, 341.21, 341.23, 753.02, 753.04, 753.16, 2301.56, or 2947.19 and Ohio R.C. 2929.37, both of the following apply:

      1. (A) The court shall specify both of the following as part of the sentence:

        1. (1) If the person is presented with an itemized bill pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2929.37 for payment of the costs of confinement, the person is required to pay the bill in accordance with that section.

        2. (2) If the person does not dispute the bill described in subsection (b)(4)A.1. of this section and does not pay the bill by the times specified in Ohio R.C. 2929.37, the clerk of the court may issue a certificate of judgment against the person as described in that section.

      2. (B) The sentence automatically includes any certificate of judgment issued as described in subsection (b)(4)A.2. of this section.
        (ORC 2929.24)

  3. (c) Organizations. Regardless of the penalties provided in subsections (a) and (b) hereof, an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to Section 501.11 shall be fined, in accordance with this section. The court shall fix the fine as follows:

    Type of Misdemeanor Maximum Fine
    First degree $5,000.00
    Second degree 4,000.00
    Third degree 3,000.00
    Fourth degree 2,000.00
    Minor 1,000.00
    Misdemeanor not specifically classified 2,000.00
    Minor misdemeanor not specifically classified 1,000.00

    1. (1) When an organization is convicted of an offense that is not specifically classified, and the section defining the offense or penalty plainly indicates a purpose to impose the penalty provided for violation upon organizations, then the penalty so provided shall be imposed in lieu of the penalty provided in this subsection (c).

    2. (2) When an organization is convicted of an offense that is not specifically classified, and the penalty provided includes a higher fine than the fine that is provided in this subsection (c), then the penalty imposed shall be pursuant to the penalty provided for the violation of the section defining the offense.

    3. (3) This subsection (c) does not prevent the imposition of available civil sanctions against an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to Section 501.11, either in addition to or in lieu of a fine imposed pursuant to this subsection (c).
      (ORC 2929.31)