606.15 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.

   (a)   No person, with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for a misdemeanor, or to assist another to benefit from the commission of a misdemeanor, and no person, with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, adjudication as a delinquent child, or disposition of a child for an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor or to assist a child to benefit from the commission of an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor, shall do any of the following:

      (1)   Harbor or conceal the other person or child;

      (2)   Provide the other person or child with money, transportation, a weapon, a disguise, or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension;

      (3)   Warn the other person or child of impending discovery or apprehension;

      (4)   Destroy or conceal physical evidence of the misdemeanor, or act, or induce any person to withhold testimony or information or to elude legal process summoning the person to testify or supply evidence;

      (5)   Communicate false information to any person.

      (6)   Prevent or obstruct any person, by means of force, intimidation, or deception, from performing any act to aid in the discovery, apprehension, or prosecution of the other person or child.

   (b)   A person may be prosecuted for, and may be convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for committing, a violation of subsection (a) hereof, regardless of whether the person or child aided ultimately is apprehended for, is charged with, is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the crime or act the person or child aided committed.  The crime or act the person or child aided committed shall be used under subsection (c) hereof in determining the penalty for the violation of subsection (a) hereof, regardless of whether the person or child aided ultimately is apprehended for, is charged with, is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the crime or act the person or child aided committed.

   (c)   (1)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing justice.

      (2)   If the crime committed by the person aided is a misdemeanor or if the act committed by the child aided would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult, obstructing justice is a misdemeanor of the same degree as the misdemeanor committed by the person aided or a misdemeanor of the same degree that the act committed by the child aided would be if committed by an adult.

   (d)   As used in this section:

      (1)   “Adult” and “child” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2151.011.

      (2)   “Delinquent child” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2152.02.

         (ORC 2921.32)