(a) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies:
(1) The statement is made in any official proceeding.
(2) The statement is made with purpose to incriminate another.
(3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in performing the public official’s official function.
(4)
The statement is made with purpose to secure the payment of unemployment compensation; Ohio works first; prevention, retention and contingency benefits and services; disability financial assistance; retirement benefits or health care coverage from a state retirement system; economic development assistance as defined in Ohio R.C. 9.66; or other benefits administered by a governmental agency or paid out of a public treasury.
(5) The statement is made with purpose to secure the issuance by a governmental agency of a license, permit, authorization, certificate, registration, release or provider agreement.
(6) The statement is sworn or affirmed before a notary public or another person empowered to administer oaths.
(7) The statement is in writing on or in connection with a report or return that is required or authorized by law.
(8) The statement is in writing, and is made with purpose to induce another to extend credit to or employ the offender, or to confer any degree, diploma, certificate of attainment, award of excellence or honor on the offender, or to extend to or bestow upon the offender any other valuable benefit or distinction, when the person to whom the statement is directed relies upon it to that person’s detriment.
(9) The statement is made with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a theft offense.
(10) The statement is knowingly made to a probate court in connection with any action, proceeding or other matter within its jurisdiction, either orally or in a written document, including, but not limited to, an application, petition, complaint or other pleading, or an inventory, account or report.
(11) The statement is made on an account, form, record, stamp, label or other writing that is required by law.
(12) The statement is made in a document or instrument of writing that purports to be a judgment, lien, or claim of indebtedness and is filed or recorded with the Secretary of State, a county recorder, or the clerk of a court of record.
(13) The statement is required under Ohio R.C. 5743.71 in connection with the person's purchase of cigarettes or tobacco products in a delivery sale.
(b) It is no defense to a charge under subsection (a)(6) hereof that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner.
(c) If contradictory statements relating to the same fact are made by the offender within the period of the statute of limitations for falsification, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove which statement was false, but only that one or the other was false.
(d) (1) Whoever violates any provision of subsection (a)(1) to (8) or (10) to (13) hereof is guilty of falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (a)(9) hereof is guilty of falsification in a theft offense, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, falsification in a theft offense is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(e) A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to any person harmed by the violation for injury, death, or loss to person or property incurred as a result of the commission of the offense and for reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other expenses incurred as a result of prosecuting the civil action commenced under this section. A civil action under this section is not the exclusive remedy of a person who incurs injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of a violation of this section.
(ORC 2921.13)
(ORC 2921.13)