(a) No person, without privilege to do so, shall purposely deface, damage, pollute or otherwise physically mistreat any of the following:
(1) The flag of the United States or of this State;
(2) Any public monument;
(3) Any historical or commemorative marker, or any structure, Indian mound or earthwork, cemetery, thing or site of great historical or archeological interest;
(4) A place of worship, its furnishings, or religious artifacts or sacred texts within the place of worship or within the grounds upon which the place of worship is located;
(5) A work of art or museum piece;
(6) Any other object of reverence or sacred devotion.
(b) As used in this section, “cemetery” means any place of burial and includes burial sites that contain American Indian burial objects placed with or containing American Indian human remains.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of desecration. A violation of paragraph (a)(1), (2), (3), (5) or (6) hereof is a misdemeanor of the second degree. The penalty shall be as provided in Section 698.02. A violation of paragraph (a)(4) hereof is a felony of the fifth degree and shall be prosecuted under Ohio R.C. 2927.11. (ORC 2927.11)