Under Chapters 2911 and 2913 of the Ohio Revised Code (R.C.), it is illegal to acquire money, goods, or services by committing fraud, trespassing, or using force. As theft defense lawyers in Columbus, Ohio, our attorneys have extensive experience with theft, robbery, and aggravated robbery offenses. Regardless of the type of theft offense, possible penalties include incarceration, fines, and an order to pay restitution and/or damages, in addition to other long-term direct and collateral consequences.
Hiring a criminal defense attorney as soon as you have been charged with theft, robbery, and/or aggravated robbery in Ohio can be vital to understanding the nature of your charges. If you have been charged with any theft offense in Franklin County, or any of the surrounding counties in Ohio, including Delaware County, Union County, Licking County, Pickaway County, Madison County, and Fairfield County, contact The Tyack Law Firm for a consultation at (614) 221-1342 [or get in touch with us online by completing this contact form] to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney that is knowledgeable about Ohio’s theft and robbery laws.
What Does Ohio Consider Theft?
Under Ohio law, theft is committed through the unauthorized taking of property, when the offender acts with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. Specifically, R.C. 2913.02 prohibits a person from “knowingly obtaining” or “exerting control” over someone else’s property or services:
- without the consent of the owner (or a 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;
- by threat; or
- by intimidation.
Possible theft offenses in Ohio include:
- Accepting bribes as a government official;
- Breaking and entering, which involves going into a locked or off-limits area but not necessarily breaking anything;
- Burglary, which involves trespassing;
- Counterfeiting anything that is under trademark or copyright protection;
- Defrauding creditors by providing false information or taking loans with no intention of repaying the money;
- Fixing sporting events;
- Forgery;
- Illegal use of government benefits such as food stamps or a WIC card;
- Illegal use of a credit card;
- Impersonating a law enforcement officer or government official for personal gain, which the relevant statute actually calls “personating”;
- Insurance fraud;
- Medicaid and/or Medicare fraud;
- Passing bad checks;
- Pirating movies and television shows;
- Safecracking;
- Stealing cable or internet service;
- Tampering with vending machines, jukeboxes, and parking meters;
- Unauthorized use of a vehicle; and
- Workers’ compensation fraud.
What Makes a Theft a Robbery?
Under Ohio law, a person commits robbery (R.C. 2911.02) when, in attempting, committing, or fleeing immediately after the attempt or commission of a theft offense:
- Has a deadly weapon on or about his or her person or under his or her control;
- Inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict physical harm to another; or
- Uses or threatens the immediate use of force against another person.
The more serious offense of aggravated robbery (R.C. 2911.01) occurs when, in attempting, committing, or fleeing immediately after the attempt or commission of a theft offense, the offender:
- Has a deadly weapon on or about his or her person or under his or her control AND either displays the weapon, brandishes it, indicates that he or she possesses it, or uses it;
- Has a dangerous ordnance on or about his or her person or under his or her control; or
- Inflicts or attempts to inflict, serious physical harm on another person.
Robbery involving a deadly weapon or by inflicting or threatening physical harm is a second-degree felony in Ohio. Robbery involving the use of or threatening the use of immediate force against another person is a felony of the third degree. The more serious offense of aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony in Ohio.
Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney in Columbus, Ohio for your robbery and/or aggravated robbery charge as soon as possible is imperative to effectively understand the charges against you and the potential penalties associated with those charges. The criminal defense attorneys at The Tyack Law Firm will be able to help you evaluate your case and provide guidance as to possible legal defenses to your criminal charges.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from the Tyack Law Firm Co., L.P.A., or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel or representation on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, county, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
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