Chapter 2905 | Kidnapping and Extortion

Section 2905.01 | Kidnapping.

• Effective: March 22, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 201 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) No person, by force, threat, or deception, or, in the case of a victim under the age of thirteen or mentally incompetent, by any means, shall remove another from the place where the other person is found or restrain the liberty of the other person, for any of the following purposes:

(1) To hold for ransom, or as a shield or hostage;

(2) To facilitate the commission of any felony or flight thereafter;

(3) To terrorize, or to inflict serious physical harm on the victim or another;

(4) To engage in sexual activity, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code, with the victim against the victim's will;

(5) To hinder, impede, or obstruct a function of government, or to force any action or concession on the part of governmental authority;

(6) To hold in a condition of involuntary servitude.

(B) No person, by force, threat, or deception, or, in the case of a victim under the age of thirteen or mentally incompetent, by any means, shall knowingly do any of the following, under circumstances that create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the victim or, in the case of a minor victim, under circumstances that either create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the victim or cause physical harm to the victim:

(1) Remove another from the place where the other person is found;

(2) Restrain another of the other person's liberty.

(C)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of kidnapping. Except as otherwise provided in this division or division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, kidnapping is a felony of the first degree. Except as otherwise provided in this division or division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, if an offender who violates division (A)(1) to (5), (B)(1), or (B)(2) of this section releases the victim in a safe place unharmed, kidnapping is a felony of the second degree.

(2) If the offender in any case also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1422 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, the court shall order the offender to make restitution as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.18 of the Revised Code and, except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3) of this section, shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(7) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(3) If the victim of the offense is less than thirteen years of age and if the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a sexual motivation specification that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, kidnapping is a felony of the first degree, and, notwithstanding the definite or indefinite sentence provided for a felony of the first degree in section 2929.14 of the Revised Code, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to section 2971.03 of the Revised Code as follows:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3)(b) of this section, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to that section to an indefinite prison term consisting of a minimum term of fifteen years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

(b) If the offender releases the victim in a safe place unharmed, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to that section to an indefinite term consisting of a minimum term of ten years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Involuntary servitude" has the same meaning as in section 2905.31 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Sexual motivation specification" has the same meaning as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2905.02 | Abduction.

• Effective: September 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 86 - 129th General Assembly

(A) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly do any of the following:

(1) By force or threat, remove another from the place where the other person is found;

(2) By force or threat, restrain the liberty of another person under circumstances that create a risk of physical harm to the victim or place the other person in fear;

(3) Hold another in a condition of involuntary servitude.

(B) No person, with a sexual motivation, shall violate division (A) of this section.

(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of abduction. A violation of division (A)(1) or (2) of this section or a violation of division (B) of this section involving conduct of the type described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is a felony of the third degree. A violation of division (A)(3) of this section or a violation of division (B) of this section involving conduct of the type described in division (A)(3) of this section is a felony of the second degree. If the offender in any case also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1422 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(7) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code and shall order the offender to make restitution as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.18 of the Revised Code.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Involuntary servitude" has the same meaning as in section 2905.31 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Sexual motivation" has the same meaning as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2905.03 | Unlawful restraint.

• Effective: January 1, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 10 - 127th General Assembly

(A) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly restrain another of the other person's liberty.

(B) No person, without privilege to do so and with a sexual motivation, shall knowingly restrain another of the other person's liberty.

(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful restraint, a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(D) As used in this section, "sexual motivation" has the same meaning as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2905.05 | Criminal child enticement.

• Effective: September 8, 2016
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 131st General Assembly

(A) No person, by any means and without privilege to do so, shall knowingly solicit, coax, entice, or lure any child under fourteen years of age to accompany the person in any manner, including entering into any vehicle or onto any vessel, whether or not the offender knows the age of the child, if both of the following apply:

(1) The actor does not have the express or implied permission of the parent, guardian, or other legal custodian of the child in undertaking the activity.

(2) The actor is not a law enforcement officer, medic, firefighter, or other person who regularly provides emergency services, and is not an employee or agent of, or a volunteer acting under the direction of, any board of education, or the actor is any of such persons, but, at the time the actor undertakes the activity, the actor is not acting within the scope of the actor's lawful duties in that capacity.

(B) No person, with a sexual motivation, shall violate division (A) of this section.

(C) No person, for any unlawful purpose other than, or in addition to, that proscribed by division (A) of this section, shall engage in any activity described in division (A) of this section.

(D) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A) of this section that the actor undertook the activity in response to a bona fide emergency situation or that the actor undertook the activity in a reasonable belief that it was necessary to preserve the health, safety, or welfare of the child.

(E) Whoever violates division (A), (B), or (C) of this section is guilty of criminal child enticement, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, section 2907.02 or 2907.03 or former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, or section 2905.01 or 2907.05 of the Revised Code when the victim of that prior offense was under seventeen years of age at the time of the offense, criminal child enticement is a felony of the fifth degree.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Sexual motivation" has the same meaning as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Vessel" has the same meaning as in section 1546.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2905.11 | Extortion.

• Effective: July 1, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly

(A) No person, with purpose to obtain any valuable thing or valuable benefit or to induce another to do an unlawful act, shall do any of the following:

(1) Threaten to commit any felony;

(2) Threaten to commit any offense of violence;

(3) Violate section 2903.21 or 2903.22 of the Revised Code;

(4) Utter or threaten any calumny against any person;

(5) Expose or threaten to expose any matter tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or to damage any person's personal or business repute, or to impair any person's credit.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of extortion, a felony of the third degree.

(C) As used in this section, "threat" includes a direct threat and a threat by innuendo.

Section 2905.12 | Coercion.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly

(A) No person, with purpose to coerce another into taking or refraining from action concerning which the other person has a legal freedom of choice, shall do any of the following:

(1) Threaten to commit any offense;

(2) Utter or threaten any calumny against any person;

(3) Expose or threaten to expose any matter tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, to damage any person's personal or business repute, or to impair any person's credit;

(4) Institute or threaten criminal proceedings against any person;

(5) Take, withhold, or threaten to take or withhold official action, or cause or threaten to cause official action to be taken or withheld.

(B) Divisions (A)(4) and (5) of this section shall not be construed to prohibit a prosecutor or court from doing any of the following in good faith and in the interests of justice:

(1) Offering or agreeing to grant, or granting immunity from prosecution pursuant to section 2945.44 of the Revised Code;

(2) In return for a plea of guilty to one or more offenses charged or to one or more other or lesser offenses, or in return for the testimony of the accused in a case to which the accused is not a party, offering or agreeing to dismiss, or dismissing one or more charges pending against an accused, or offering or agreeing to impose, or imposing a certain sentence or modification of sentence;

(3) Imposing a community control sanction on certain conditions, including without limitation requiring the offender to make restitution or redress to the victim of the offense.

(C) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A)(3), (4), or (5) of this section that the actor's conduct was a reasonable response to the circumstances that occasioned it, and that the actor's purpose was limited to any of the following:

(1) Compelling another to refrain from misconduct or to desist from further misconduct;

(2) Preventing or redressing a wrong or injustice;

(3) Preventing another from taking action for which the actor reasonably believed the other person to be disqualified;

(4) Compelling another to take action that the actor reasonably believed the other person to be under a duty to take.

(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of coercion, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Threat" includes a direct threat and a threat by innuendo.

(2) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2905.21 | Extortionate extension of credit - criminal usury definitions.

• Effective: October 9, 1978
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 88 - 112th General Assembly

As used in sections 2905.21 to 2905.24 of the Revised Code:

(A) "To extend credit" means to make or renew any loan, or to enter into any agreement, express or implied, for the repayment or satisfaction of any debt or claim, regardless of whether the extension of credit is acknowledged or disputed, valid or invalid, and however arising.

(B) "Creditor" means any person who extends credit, or any person claiming by, under, or through such a person.

(C) "Debtor" means any person who receives an extension of credit, any person who guarantees the repayment of an extension of credit, or any person who in any manner undertakes to indemnify the creditor against loss resulting from the failure of any recipient to repay an extension of credit.

(D) "Repayment" of an extension of credit means the repayment, satisfaction, or discharge in whole or in part of any debt or claim, acknowledged or disputed, valid or invalid, resulting from or in connection with that extension of credit.

(E) "Collect an extension of credit" means an attempt to collect from a debtor all or part of an amount due from the extension of credit.

(F) "Extortionate extension of credit" means any extension of credit with respect to which it is the understanding of the creditor and the debtor at the time it is made that delay in making repayment or failure to make repayment will result in the use of an extortionate means or if the debtor at a later time learns that failure to make repayment will result in the use of extortionate means.

(G) "Extortionate means" is any means that involves the use, or an express or implicit threat of use, of violence or other criminal means to cause harm to the person or property of the debtor or any member of his family.

(H) "Criminal usury" means illegally charging, taking, or receiving any money or other property as interest on an extension of credit at a rate exceeding twenty-five per cent per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period, unless either:

(1) The rate of interest is otherwise authorized by law;

(2) The creditor and the debtor, or all the creditors and all the debtors are members of the same immediate family.

(I) "Immediate family" means a person's spouse residing in the person's household, brothers and sisters of the whole or of the half blood, and children, including adopted children.

Section 2905.22 | Extortionate extension of credit - criminal usury.

• Effective: July 1, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly

(A) No person shall:

(1) Knowingly make or participate in an extortionate extension of credit;

(2) Knowingly engage in criminal usury;

(3) Possess any writing, paper, instrument, or article used to record criminally usurious transactions, knowing that the contents record a criminally usurious transaction.

(B) Whoever violates division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (A)(3) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Section 2905.23 | Probable cause to believe that extension of credit was extortionate.

• Effective: October 9, 1978
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 88 - 112th General Assembly

In any prosecution under sections 2905.21 to 2905.24 of the Revised Code, if it is shown that any of the following factors were present in connection with the extension of credit, there is probable cause to believe that the extension of credit was extortionate:

(A) The extension of credit was made at a rate of interest in excess of that established for criminal usury;

(B) At the time credit was extended, the debtor reasonably believed that:

(1) One or more extensions of credit by the creditor were collected or attempted to be collected by extortionate means, or the nonrepayment thereof was punished by extortionate means;

(2) The creditor had a reputation for the use of extortionate means to collect extensions of credit or punish the nonrepayment thereof.

Section 2905.24 | Evidence showing an implicit threat as means of collection.

• Effective: October 9, 1978
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 88 - 112th General Assembly

In any prosecution under sections 2905.21 to 2905.24 of the Revised Code, for the purpose of showing an implicit threat as a means of collection, evidence may be introduced tending to show that one or more extensions of credit by the creditor were, to the knowledge of the person against whom the implicit threat is alleged to have been made, collected, or attempted to be collected by extortionate means or that the nonrepayment thereof was punished by extortionate means.

Section 2905.31 | Definitions for sections 2905.31 to 2905.33.

• Effective: March 24, 2011
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 235 - 128th General Assembly

As used in sections 2905.31 to 2905.33 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Involuntary servitude" means being compelled to perform labor or services for another against one's will.

(B) "Material that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented" and "performance that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2905.32 | Trafficking in persons.

• Effective: September 13, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 427 - 134th General Assembly

(A) No person shall knowingly recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain, or knowingly attempt to recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain, another person if either of the following applies:

(1) The offender knows that the other person will be subjected to involuntary servitude or be compelled to engage in sexual activity for hire, engage in a performance that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented, or be a model or participant in the production of material that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented.

(2) The other person is less than eighteen years of age or is a person with a developmental disability whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a person with a developmental disability, and either the offender knows that the other person will be subjected to involuntary servitude or the offender's knowing recruitment, luring, enticement, isolation, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, or maintenance of the other person or knowing attempt to recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain the other person is for any of the following purposes:

(a) For the other person to engage in sexual activity for hire with one or more third parties;

(b) To engage in a performance for hire that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented;

(c) To be a model or participant for hire in the production of material that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented.

(B) For a prosecution under division (A)(1) of this section, the element "compelled" does not require that the compulsion be openly displayed or physically exerted. The element "compelled" has been established if the state proves that the offender overcame the victim's will by force, fear, duress, intimidation, or fraud, by furnishing or offering a controlled substance to the victim, or by manipulating the victim's controlled substance addiction.

(C) In a prosecution under this section, proof that the defendant engaged in sexual activity with any person, or solicited sexual activity with any person, whether or not for hire, without more, does not constitute a violation of this section.

(D) A prosecution for a violation of this section does not preclude a prosecution of a violation of any other section of the Revised Code. One or more acts, a series of acts, or a course of behavior that can be prosecuted under this section or any other section of the Revised Code may be prosecuted under this section, the other section of the Revised Code, or both sections. However, if an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 2907.21 of the Revised Code based on the same conduct involving the same victim that was the basis of the violation of this section, or is convicted of or pleads guilty to any other violation of Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code based on the same conduct involving the same victim that was the basis of the violation of this section, the two offenses are allied offenses of similar import under section 2941.25 of the Revised Code.

(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of trafficking in persons, a felony of the first degree. For a violation committed prior to March 22, 2019, notwithstanding the range of definite terms set forth in division (A)(1)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code, the court shall sentence the offender to a definite prison term of ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years. For a violation committed on or after March 22, 2019, notwithstanding the range of minimum terms set forth in division (A)(1)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code, the court shall sentence the offender to an indefinite prison term pursuant to that division, with a minimum term under that sentence of ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Person with a developmental disability" means a person whose ability to resist or consent to an act is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age.

(2) "Sexual activity for hire," "performance for hire," and "model or participant for hire" mean an implicit or explicit agreement to provide sexual activity, engage in an obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented performance, or be a model or participant in the production of obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented material, whichever is applicable, in exchange for anything of value paid to any of the following:

(a) The person engaging in such sexual activity, performance, or modeling or participation;

(b) Any person who recruits, lures, entices, isolates, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, or maintains, or attempts to recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain the person described in division (F)(2)(a) of this section;

(c) Any person associated with a person described in division (F)(2)(a) or (b) of this section.

(3) "Material that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented" and "performance that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Third party" means, with respect to conduct described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, any person other than the offender.

Last updated July 14, 2022 at 12:38 PM

Section 2905.33 | Unlawful conduct with respect to documents.

• Effective: March 24, 2011
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 235 - 128th General Assembly

(A) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly destroy, conceal, remove, confiscate, or possess any actual or purported government identification document or passport of another person in the course of a violation of, with intent to violate, or with intent to facilitate a violation of section 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.32, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, or 2907.323 of the Revised Code.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful conduct with respect to documents, a felony of the third degree.