What is the Age of Consent?
In Ohio, the age of consent for sex is sixteen (16) years old, pursuant to R.C. 2907.04.
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What does that really mean?
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This means a person who is sixteen (16) years old can legally have sex with an individual who is also sixteen (16) years old or older legally based upon age. (Obviously, both participants must be of sound mind and not impaired in any way to be able to legally consent).
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What does that mean for an eighteen (18) year old?
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If a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older engages in Sexual Conduct with another known to be thirteen (13) years of age or older but less than sixteen (16) years old, then that person is committing the crime of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor. The offense level for that crime varies by the age of the participants.
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What is the punishment for sex with someone under the age of consent?
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Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor is generally a felony of the fourth degree. R.C. 2907.04 (B)(1). However, as stated above, the offense level for that crime varies by the age of the participants.
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If the offender is less than four years older than the other person, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a misdemeanor of the first degree. R.C. 2907.04 (B)(2).
i.e. One individual is fourteen (14) years old, and the other individual is eighteen (18).
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If the offender is ten or more years older than the other person, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the third degree. R.C. 2907.04 (B)(3). ​
i.e. One individual is fourteen (14) years old, and the other individual is twenty-four (24) years old or older.
i.e. One individual is fifteen (15) years old, and the other individual is twenty-five (25) years old or older.
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Further, if the offender has previously been convicted or pled guilty to a violation of R.C. 2907.02 (Rape), R.C. 2907.03 (Sexual Battery), R.C. 2907.04 (Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor), or the now repealed offense of R.C. 2907.12 (Felonious Sexual Penetration), then unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the second degree. R.C. 2907.04(B)(4).
What sex offenses does the Ohio Legal Group Defend against?
The Ohio Legal Group attorneys are experienced in defending against all allegations of felony and misdemeanor sex offenses in state, municipal, and federal courts.
Specifically what offenses does the Ohio Legal Group defend?
In Ohio, many attorneys are afraid of sex crime allegations. We are not afraid of them, and we do not believe the defense of them defines us nor does the allegation you're facing define you.
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We have defended our clients against allegations of each of the following and more, and we've defended our clients in municipal courts, state courts, and federal courts:
R.C. 2907.02 Rape,
R.C. 2907.03 Sexual Battery,
R.C. 2907.04 Unlawful Sexual Conduct with Minors,
R.C. 2907.05 Gross Sexual Imposition,
R.C. 2907.06 Sexual Imposition,
R.C. 2907.07 Importuning,
R.C. 2907.08 Voyeurism,
R.C. 2907.09 Public Indecency,
R.C. 2907.19 Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor,
R.C. 2907.21 Compelling Prostitution,
R.C. 2907.22 Promoting Prostitution,
R.C. 2907.231 Engaging in Prostitution,
R.C. 2907.31 Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles,
R.C. 2907.32 Pandering Obscenity,
R.C. 2907.321 Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor,
R.C. 2907.322 Pandering Sexually Oriented Material,
18 U.S.C. 2252 Child Pornography.