(A) No person shall purposely deface, damage, pollute or otherwise physically mistreat any of the following:
(1) Any flag of the United States of America or the flag of the State of Ohio procured with the public funds of the city or procured with other public funds or private funds on behalf of the city.
(2) Any symbol, flag or seal of the city procured with the public funds of the city or procured with other public or private funds on behalf of the city.
(3) Any historical marker erected by the federal government of the United States, the State of Ohio, the City of Washington Court House, the Ohio Historical Society or any other recognized or official sub-entity thereof
(4) Any place of worship or its furnishings or religious artifacts or sacred texts within, about or upon the premises upon which the place of worship is located.
(5) Any work of art or museum piece regularly on display for the enjoyment of the general public.
(6) Any structure, improvement, tree, shrub, ornamental plant or turf placed within, about or upon the premises of any public park, recreational trail corridor or cemetery maintained by the city.
(7) Any structure or its furnishings within, about or upon the principal offices of the city.
(8) Any structure or its furnishings within about or upon any property used by the city as a base for any service to the residents of the city.
(9) Any improvement, tree, shrub, ornamental plant or turf maintained by the city relating to a public street or right-of-way maintained by the city.
(10) Any motor vehicle owned, controlled or leased by the city.
(B) Any person found to have violated any provisions of this section is guilty of desecration, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(C) Nothing contained within this section shall be construed to prohibit prosecution under applicable sections of the Ohio Revised Code.
(D) The City Attorney shall seek by civil action compensatory relief for acts of desecration against the property of the city for any act of desecration that results in damages exceeding $1,000.
(Ord. 41-2004, passed 5-26-04)