636.18 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

   (a)   No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member.

   (b)   No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member.

   (c)   No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member.

   (d)   (1)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of domestic violence.

      (2)   Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(3) to (5) of this section, a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, and a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

      (3)   Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(4) of this section, if the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of domestic violence, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to domestic violence, a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.14, 2909.06, 2909.07, 2911.12, 2911.211, or 2919.22 if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to any of those sections if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the violation, or any offense of violence if the victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the offense, a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law, and a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

      (4)   If the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of two or more offenses of domestic violence or two or more violations or offenses of the type described in subsection (d)(3) of this section involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations or offenses, a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law, and a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

      (5)   Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(3) or (4) of this section, if the offender knew that the victim of the violation was pregnant at the time of the violation, a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law, and a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree.

   (e)   Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no court or unit of local government shall charge any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of charges against a person alleging that the person violated this section or in connection with the prosecution of any charges so filed.

   (f)   As used in this section:

      (1)   "Family or household member" means any of the following:

         A.   Any of the following who is residing or has resided with the offender:

            1.   A spouse, a person living as a spouse or a former spouse of the offender;

            2.   A parent, a foster parent or a child of the offender, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the offender;

            3.   A parent, or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the offender; or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse or former spouse of the offender.

         B.   The natural parent of any child of whom the offender is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

      (2)   "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with the offender in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the offender, or who otherwise has cohabited with the offender within five years prior to the date of the alleged commission of the act in question. (ORC 2919.25)

   (g)   The same relief available under the Ohio Revised Code for filing a complaint for violation of Ohio R.C. 2919.25 shall be available for filing a complaint for violation of this section.