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545.02 DETERMINING PROPERTY VALUE IN THEFT OFFENSE.
   (a)   If more than one item of property or service is involved in a theft offense, the value of the property or services involved for the purpose of determining the value is the aggregate value of all property or services involved in the offense.
   (b)   (1)   When a series of offenses under Section 545.05, or a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Section 545.05, 545.06, or 545.08, 545.10(b)(1) or (2), or Section 545.15 or 545.20 involving a victim who is an elderly person or disabled adult, is committed by the offender in the offender’s same employment, capacity, or relationship to another, all of those offenses shall be tried as a single offense. When a series of offenses under Section 545.05, or a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Sections 545.05 or 545.15 involving a victim who is an active duty service member or spouse of an active duty service member is committed by the offender in the offender’s same employment, capacity or relationship to another, all of those offenses shall be tried as a single offense. The value of the property or services involved in the series of offenses for the purpose of determining the value is the aggregate value of all property and services involved in all offenses in the series.
      (2)   If an offender commits a series of offenses under Section 545.05 that involves a common course of conduct to defraud multiple victims, all of the offenses may be tried as a single offense. If an offender is being tried for the commission of a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Section 545.05, 545.06 or 545.08, Section 545.10(b)(1) or (2), or Section 545.15 or 545.20, whether committed against one victim or more than one victim, involving a victim who is an elderly person or disabled adult, pursuant to a scheme or course of conduct, all of those offenses may be tried as a single offense. If the offender is being tried for the commission of a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Section 545.05 or 545.15, whether committed against one victim or more than one victim, involving a victim who is an active duty service member or spouse of an active duty service member pursuant to a scheme or course of conduct, all of those offenses may be tried as a single offense. If the offenses are tried as a single offense, the value of the property or services involved for the purpose of determining the value is the aggregate value of all property and services involved in all of the offenses in the course of conduct.
   (c)   The following criteria shall be used in determining the value of property or services involved in a theft offense:
      (1)   The value of an heirloom, memento, collector's item, antique, museum piece, manuscript, document, record or other thing that has intrinsic worth to its owner and that is either irreplaceable or is replaceable only on the expenditure of substantial time, effort or money, is the amount that would compensate the owner for its loss.
      (2)   The value of personal effects and household goods, and of materials, supplies, equipment and fixtures used in the profession, business, trade, occupation or avocation of its owner, which property is not covered under subsection (c)(1) hereof, and which retains substantial utility for its purpose regardless of its age or condition, is the cost of replacing the property with new property of like kind and quality.
      (3)   The value of any real or personal property that is not covered under subsections (c)(1) or (2) hereof, and the value of services, is the fair market value of the property or services. As used in this section, "fair market value" is the money consideration that a buyer would give and a seller would accept for property or services, assuming that the buyer is willing to buy and the seller is willing to sell, that both are fully informed as to all facts material to the transaction, and that neither is under any compulsion to act.
   (d)   Without limitation on the evidence that may be used to establish the value of property or services involved in a theft offense:
      (1)   When the property involved is personal property held for sale at wholesale or retail, the price at which the property was held for sale is prima-facie evidence of its value.
      (2)   When the property involved is a security or commodity traded on an exchange, the closing price or, if there is no closing price, the asked price, given in the latest market quotation prior to the offense, is prima-facie evidence of the value of the security or commodity.
      (3)   When the property involved is livestock, poultry or raw agricultural products for which a local market price is available, the latest local market price prior to the offense is prima-facie evidence of the value of the livestock, poultry or products.
      (4)   When the property involved is a negotiable instrument, the face value is prima-facie evidence of the value of the instrument.
      (5)   When the property involved is a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, pawn ticket, claim check or other instrument entitling the holder or bearer to receive property, the face value or, if there is no face value, the value of the property covered by the instrument less any payment necessary to receive the property, is prima-facie evidence of the value of the instrument.
      (6)   When the property involved is a ticket of admission, ticket for transportation, coupon, token or other instrument entitling the holder or bearer to receive property or services, the face value or, if there is no face value, the value of the property or services that may be received by the instrument, is prima-facie evidence of the value of the instrument.
      (7)   When the services involved are gas, electricity, water, telephone, transportation, shipping or other services for which the rate is established by law, the duly established rate is prima-facie evidence of the value of the services.
      (8)   When the services involved are services for which the rate is not established by law, and the offender has been notified prior to the offense of the rate for the services, either in writing or orally, or by posting in a manner reasonably calculated to come to the attention of potential offenders, the rate contained in the notice is prima-facie evidence of the value of the services. (ORC 2913.61)
545.03 PROPERTY EXCEPTIONS AS FELONY OFFENSE.
   Regardless of the value of the property involved, and regardless of whether the offender has previously been convicted of a theft offense, the provisions of Section 545.05 or 545.18 do not apply if the property involved is any of the following:
   (a)   A credit card;
   (b)   A printed form for a check or other negotiable instrument, that on its face identifies the drawer or maker for whose use it is designed or identifies the account on which it is to be drawn, and that has not been executed by the drawer or maker or on which the amount is blank;
   (c)   A motor vehicle identification license plate as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 4503.22, a temporary motor vehicle license registration as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 4503.182, or any comparable temporary motor vehicle license registration as prescribed by the applicable law of another state or the United States;
   (d)   A blank form for a certificate of title or a manufacturer's or importer's certificate to a motor vehicle, as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 4505.07;
   (e)   A blank form for any license listed in Ohio R.C. 4507.01(A).
      (ORC 2913.71)
545.04 DETENTION OF SHOPLIFTERS; RIGHTS OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES.
   (a)   A merchant, or his employee or agent, who has probable cause to believe that items offered for sale by a mercantile establishment have been unlawfully taken by a person, may, for the purposes set forth in subsection (c) hereof, detain the person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time within the mercantile establishment or its immediate vicinity.
   (b)   Any officer, employee or agent of a library, museum or archival institution may, for the purposes set forth in subsection (c) hereof or for the purpose of conducting a reasonable investigation of a belief that the person has acted in a manner described in subsections (b)(1) and (2) hereof, detain a person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time within, or in the immediate vicinity of the library, museum or archival institution, if the officer, employee or agent has probable cause to believe that the person has either:
      (1)   Without privilege to do so, knowingly moved, defaced, damaged, destroyed or otherwise improperly tampered with property owned by or in the custody of the library, museum or archival institution; or
      (2)   With purpose to deprive the library, museum or archival institution of property owned by it or in its custody, knowingly obtained or exerted control over the property without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent, beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent, by deception, or by threat.
   (c)   An officer, agent or employee of a library, museum or archival institution pursuant to subsection (b) hereof or a merchant or his employee or agent pursuant to subsection (a) hereof may detain another person for any of the following purposes:
      (1)   To recover the property that is the subject of the unlawful taking, criminal mischief or theft;
      (2)   To cause an arrest to be made by a peace officer;
      (3)   To obtain a warrant of arrest.
      (4)   To offer the person, if the person is suspected of the unlawful taking, criminal mischief, or theft and notwithstanding any other provision of this General Offenses or the Ohio Revised Code, an opportunity to complete a pretrial diversion program and to inform the person of the other legal remedies available to the library, museum, archival institution or merchant.
   (d)   The officer, agent or employee of the library, museum or archival institution, or the merchant or his employee or agent acting under subsection (a) or (b) hereof shall not search the person, search or seize any property belonging to the person detained without the person's consent, or use undue restraint upon the person detained.
   (e)   Any peace officer may arrest without a warrant any person that he has probable cause to believe has committed any act described in subsection (b)(1) or (2) hereof or that he has probable cause to believe has committed an unlawful taking in a mercantile establishment. An arrest under this subsection shall be made within a reasonable time after the commission of the act or unlawful taking.
   (f)   As used in this section:
      (1)   "Archival institution" means any public or private building, structure or shelter in which are stored historical documents, devices, records, manuscripts or items of public interest, which historical materials are stored to preserve the materials or the information in the materials, to disseminate the information contained in the materials, or to make the materials available for public inspection or for inspection by certain persons who have a particular interest in, use for or knowledge concerning the materials.
      (2)   "Museum" means any public or private nonprofit institution that is permanently organized for primarily educational or aesthetic purposes, owns or borrows objects or items of public interest, and cares for and exhibits to the public the objects or items.
      (3)   “Pretrial diversion program” means a rehabilitative, educational program designed to reduce recidivism and promote personal responsibility that is at least four hours in length and that has been approved by any court in this State. (ORC 2935.041)
545.05 MISDEMEANOR THEFT.
   (a)   No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services, shall knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or services in any of the following ways:
      (1)   Without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;
      (2)   Beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;
      (3)   By deception;
      (4)   By threat;
      (5)   By intimidation.
   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of misdemeanor theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If any of the following criteria are met, then a violation of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law:
      (1)   The value of the property or services stolen is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more; or
      (2)   If the property stolen is any of the property listed in Ohio R.C. 2913.71;
      (3)   The victim of the offense is an elderly person, disabled adult, active duty service member, or spouse of an active duty service member, or
      (4)   The property stolen is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, or
      (5)   The property stolen is a motor vehicle, or
      (6)   The property stolen is any dangerous drug, or
      (7)   The property stolen is a police dog or horse or an assistance dog and the offender knows or should know that the property stolen is a police dog or horse or an assistance dog, or
      (8)   The property stolen is anhydrous ammonia, or
      (9)   The property stolen is a special purpose article as defined in Ohio R.C. 4737.04 or a bulk merchandise container as defined in Ohio R.C. 4737.012.
   (c)   In addition to the penalties described in subsection (b) of this section, if the offender committed the violation by causing a motor vehicle to leave the premises of an establishment at which gasoline is offered for retail sale without the offender making full payment for gasoline that was dispensed into the fuel tank of the motor vehicle or into another container, the court may do one of the following:
      (1)   Unless subsection (c)(2) of this section applies, suspend for not more than six months the offender’s driver’s license, probationary driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident operating privilege;
      (2)   If the offender’s driver’s license, probationary driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident operating privilege has previously been suspended pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section, impose a class seven suspension of the offender’s license, permit, or privilege from the range specified in Ohio R.C. 4510.02(A)(7), provided that the suspension shall be for at least six months.
      (3)   The court, in lieu of suspending the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license, probationary driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident operating privilege pursuant to subsections (c)(1) or (2) of this section, instead may require the offender to perform community service for a number of hours determined by the court.
   (d)   In addition to the penalties described in subsection (b) hereof, if the offender committed the violation by stealing rented property or rental services, the court may order that the offender make restitution pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2929.18 or 2929.28. Restitution may include, but is not limited to, the cost of repairing or replacing the stolen property, or the cost of repairing the stolen property and any loss of revenue resulting from deprivation of the property due to theft of rental services that is less than or equal to the actual value of the property at the time it was rented. Evidence of intent to commit theft of rented property or rental services shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Ohio R.C. 2913.72.
   (e)   The sentencing court that suspends an offender’s license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege under subsection (c) of this section may grant the offender limited driving privileges during the period of the suspension in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4510.
(ORC 2913.02)
545.06 UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A VEHICLE; VEHICLE TRESPASS.
   (a)   No person shall knowingly use or operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorboat or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.
   (b)   This section does not apply to property removed from the State or if possession is kept for more than forty-eight hours.
   (c)   The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under this section:
      (1)   At the time of the alleged offense, the actor, though mistaken, reasonably believed that the actor was authorized to use or operate the property.
      (2)   At the time of the alleged offense, the actor reasonably believed that the owner or person empowered to give consent would authorize the actor to use or operate the property.
   (d)   No person shall knowingly enter into or upon a motor vehicle, motorcycle or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.
   (e)   Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of unauthorized use of a vehicle, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult and if the victim incurs a loss as a result of the violation, a violation of subsection (a) hereof is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2913.03)
   (f)   Whoever violates subsection (d) hereof is guilty of vehicle trespass, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
545.07 INSURANCE FRAUD.
   (a)   As used in this section:
      (1)   "Data" has the same meaning as in Section 545.01 and additionally includes any other representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions that are being or have been prepared in a formalized manner.
      (2)   "Deceptive" means that a statement, in whole or in part, would cause another to be deceived because it contains a misleading representation, withholds information, prevents the acquisition of information or by any other conduct, act or omission creates, confirms or perpetuates a false impression, including, but not limited to, a false impression as to law, value, state of mind or other objective or subjective fact.
      (3)   "Insurer" means any person that is authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this State under Title XXXIX of the Ohio Revised Code; The Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting Association created under Ohio R.C. 3929.43; any health insuring corporation; and any legal entity that is self-insured and provides benefits to its employees or members.
      (4)   "Policy" means a policy, certificate, contract or plan that is issued by an insurer.
      (5)   "Statement" includes, but is not limited to, any notice, letter or memorandum; proof of loss; bill of lading; receipt for payment; invoice, account or other financial statement; estimate of property damage; bill for services; diagnosis or prognosis; prescription; hospital, medical or dental chart or other record; X-Ray, photograph, videotape or movie film; test result; other evidence of loss, injury or expense; computer-generated document; and data in any form.
   (b)   No person, with purpose to defraud or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud, shall do either of the following:
      (1)   Present to, or cause to be presented to, an insurer any written or oral statement that is part of, or in support of, an application for insurance, a claim for payment pursuant to a policy or a claim for any other benefit pursuant to a policy, knowing that the statement, or any part of the statement, is false or deceptive;
      (2)   Assist, aid, abet, solicit, procure or conspire with another to prepare or make any written or oral statement that is intended to be presented to an insurer as part of, or in support of, an application for insurance, a claim for payment pursuant to a policy, or a claim for any other benefit pursuant to a policy, knowing that the statement, or any part of the statement, is false or deceptive.
   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of insurance fraud a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the amount of the claim that is false or deceptive is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, insurance fraud is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
   (d)   This section shall not be construed to abrogate, waive or modify Ohio R.C. 2317.02(A). (ORC 2913.47)
545.08 UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PROPERTY.
   (a)   No person shall knowingly use or operate the property of another without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.
   (b)   The affirmative defenses contained in Section 545.06(c) are affirmative defenses to a charge under this section.
   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of unauthorized use of property. Except as provided in subsection (d) hereof, unauthorized use of property is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
   (d)   If unauthorized use of property is committed for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme to defraud or to obtain property or services, unauthorized use of property is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Unauthorized use of property is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if:
      (1)   Unauthorized use of property is committed for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme to defraud or to obtain property or services, and if the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more; or
      (2)   If the victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult.
         (ORC 2913.04)
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