Section 2907.071
(A) As used in this section, "pattern of conduct" has the same meaning as in section 2903.211 of the Revised Code.
(B) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in a pattern of conduct with a minor who is less than sixteen years of age and who is four or more years younger than the person, when the pattern of conduct would cause a reasonable adult person to believe that the person is communicating with the minor with purpose to do either of the following:
(1) Entice, coerce, or solicit the minor to engage in sexual activity, and when the person's purpose in engaging in the pattern of conduct is to entice, coerce, or solicit the minor to engage in sexual activity with the person or a third person;
(2) Prepare the minor to engage in sexual activity, and when the person's purpose in engaging in the pattern of conduct is to prepare the minor to engage in sexual activity with the person or a third person that would be a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, or 2907.07 of the Revised Code.
(C) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in a pattern of conduct with a minor if the person and the minor are in any of the relationships described in divisions (A)(5) to (13) of section 2907.03 of the Revised Code, when the pattern of conduct would cause a reasonable adult person to believe that the person is communicating with the minor with purpose to do either of the following:
(1) Entice, coerce, or solicit the minor to engage in sexual activity, and when the person's purpose in engaging in the pattern of conduct is to entice, coerce, or solicit the minor to engage in sexual activity with the person or a third person;
(2) Prepare the minor to engage in sexual activity, and when the person's purpose in engaging in the pattern of conduct is to prepare the minor to engage in sexual activity with the person or a third person that would be a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, or 2907.07 of the Revised Code.
(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of grooming.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, a violation of division (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the victim of the offense is less than thirteen years of age or if the offender supplied alcohol or a drug of abuse to the victim of the offense, a violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. If the victim of the offense is less than thirteen years of age and if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense or the offender supplied alcohol or a drug of abuse to the victim of the offense, a violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense and the offender supplied alcohol or a drug of abuse to the victim of the offense, a violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the third degree.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, a violation of division (C) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender supplied alcohol or a drug of abuse to the victim of the offense, a violation of division (C) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. If the victim of the offense is less than thirteen years of age or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense, a violation of division (C) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. If the victim of the offense is less than thirteen years of age and if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense or the offender supplied alcohol or a drug of abuse to the victim of the offense, a violation of division (C) of this section is a felony of the third degree.
(E) 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.
Last updated January 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- April 9, 2025 – Enacted by House Bill 322 - 135th General Assembly [ View April 9, 2025 Version ]