(A) If a person is alleged to have committed an offense and if the person previously has been adjudicated a delinquent child or juvenile traffic offender for a violation of a law or ordinance, except as provided in division (B) below, the adjudication as a delinquent child or as a juvenile traffic offender is a conviction for a violation of the law for purposes of determining the offense with which the person should be charged and, if the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to an offense, the sentence to be imposed upon the person relative to the conviction or guilty plea.
(B) A previous adjudication of a person as a delinquent child or juvenile traffic offender for a violation of a law or ordinance is not a conviction for a violation of the law or ordinance for purposes of determining any of the following:
(1) Whether the person is a repeat violent offender, as defined in R.C. § 2929.01, or whether the person should be sentenced as a repeat violent offender under R.C. § 2929.14(B)(2) and R.C. § 2941.149;
(2) Whether the person is a violent career criminal as defined in R.C. § 2923.132, whether the person has committed unlawful use of a weapon by a violent career criminal in violation of R.C. § 2923.132 or should be sentenced for that offense under that section, or whether the person should be sentenced under R.C. § 2929.14(K) as a violent career criminal who had a firearm on or about the person’s person or under the person’s control while committing a violent felony offense and displayed or brandished the firearm, indicated that the offender possessed a firearm, or used the firearm to facilitate the offense.
(R.C. § 2901.08) (2000 Code, § 130.15)