(a) No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other person, such other person’s unborn, or a member of such other person’s immediate family. Whoever violates this section is guilty of aggravated menacing. Except as otherwise provided in divisions (b) and (c), aggravated menacing is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, aggravated menacing is a felony of the fifth degree to be prosecuted under appropriate State law or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, aggravated menacing is a felony of the fourth degree to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2903.21)
(c) If the victim of the offense is a utility worker whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a utility worker, if the victim is engaged in the performance of the victim's duties, and if the offender threatens the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to obstruct the operation of a utility, aggravated menacing is a felony of the fourth degree. As used in this section, “organization” includes an entity that is a governmental employer. “Utility worker” means an employee of a person or entity whose primary responsibility is the operation or maintenance of a utility. “Utility” means an enterprise that provides gas, electric, steam, water, sewage, transportation, communication services, or cable and broadband services, whether publicly or privately owned.
(Ord. 5-2022. Passed 1-3-22.)