642.18 TAMPERING WITH RECORDS.

   (a)   No person, knowing that he or she has no privilege to do so, and with purpose to defraud or knowing that he or she is facilitating a fraud, shall do any of the following:

      (1)   Falsify, destroy, remove, conceal, alter, deface, or mutilate any writing, computer software, data, or record;

      (2)   Utter any writing or record, knowing it to have been tampered with as provided in division (a)(1) of this section.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of tampering with records.

      (1)   Except as provided in division (b)(3) of this section, if the offense does not involve data or computer software, tampering with records is whichever of the following is applicable:

         A.   If division (b)(1)B. of this section does not apply, it is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

         B.   If the writing or record is a will unrevoked at the time of the offense, it is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

      (2)   Except as provided in division (b)(3) of this section, if the offense involves a violation of division (a) of this section involving data or computer software, tampering with records is whichever of the following is applicable:

         A.   Except as otherwise provided in division (b)(2)B. of this section, it is a misdemeanor of the first degree;

         B.   If the value of the data or computer software involved in the offense or the loss to the victim is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more or if the offense is committed for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme to defraud or to obtain property or services and the value of the property or services or the loss to the victim is seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) or more, it is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

      (3)   If the writing, data, computer software, or record is kept by or belongs to a local, State, or Federal governmental entity, it is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(ORC 2913.42)

642.19 SECURING WRITINGS BY DECEPTION.

   (a)   No person, by deception, shall cause another to execute any writing that disposes of or encumbers property, or by which a pecuniary obligation is incurred.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of securing writings by deception. Except as otherwise provided in this division, securing writings by deception is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property or the obligation involved is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, securing writings by deception is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate to State law. If the victim of the offense is an elderly person, disabled adult, active duty service member, or spouse of an active duty service member, securing writings by deception is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(ORC 2913.43)

642.20 PERSONATING AN OFFICER.

   (a)   No person, with purpose to defraud or knowing that he or she is facilitating a fraud, or with purpose to induce another to purchase property or services, shall personate a law enforcement officer, or an inspector, investigator, or agent of any governmental agency.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of personating an officer, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(ORC 2913.44)

642.205 DIMINISHING OR INTERFERING WITH FORFEITABLE PROPERTY.

   (a)   No person shall destroy, damage, remove, or transfer property that is subject to forfeiture or otherwise take any action in regard to property that is subject to forfeiture with purpose to do any of the following:

      (1)   Prevent or impair the State’s or political subdivision’s lawful authority to take the property into its custody or control under Ohio R.C. Chapter 2981 or to continue holding the property under its lawful custody or control;

      (2)   Impair or defeat the court’s continuing jurisdiction over the person and property;

      (3)   Devalue property that the person knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is subject to forfeiture proceedings under Ohio R.C. Chapter 2981.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of interference with or diminishing forfeitable property. Except as otherwise provided in this division (b), interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.

(ORC 2981.07)

642.21 DEFRAUDING CREDITORS.

   (a)   No person, with purpose to defraud one or more of his or her creditors, shall do any of the following:

      (1)   Remove, conceal, destroy, encumber, convey, or otherwise deal with any of his or her property;

      (2)   Misrepresent or refuse to disclose to a fiduciary appointed to administer or manage his or her affairs or estate, the existence, amount, or location of any of his or her property, or any other information regarding the property which he or she is legally required to furnish to the fiduciary.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of defrauding creditors. Except as otherwise provided in this division, defrauding creditors is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property involved is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, defrauding creditors is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(ORC 2913.45)

642.22 RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY.

   (a)   No person shall receive, retain, or dispose of property of another knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the property has been obtained through commission of a theft offense.

   (b)   It is not a defense to a charge of receiving stolen property in violation of this section that the property was obtained by means other than through the commission of a theft offense if the property was explicitly represented to the accused person as being obtained through the commission of a theft offense.

   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of receiving stolen property. Except as otherwise provided in this division, receiving stolen property is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If any of the following criteria are met, then a violation of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law:

      (1)   The value of the property involved is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more;

      (2)   The property involved is any of the property listed in Ohio R.C. 2913.71;

      (3)   The property involved is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2923.11;

      (4)   The property involved is a motor vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4501.01;

      (5)   The property involved is any dangerous drug, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4729.01; or

      (6)   The property involved in violation of this section is a special purchase article as defined in R.C. § 4737.04 or a bulk merchandise container as defined in R.C. § 4737.012.

(ORC 2913.51)

642.23 THEFT OF C.A.T.V. (REPEALED)

   (EDITOR'S NOTE: Section 642.23 was repealed as part of the 1985 updating and revision of these Codified Ordinances because substantially identical State law (Ohio R.C. 4933.42 and 4933.99(A)) was repealed by Sub. S.B. No. 183, effective September 26, 1984. See Sections 642.01 and 642.02.)