+ What are sex offense laws in Ohio?

Sex offense laws prohibit various types of sex crimes. Typical examples are Rape, Sexual Battery, and Sexual Imposition. Some of these charges do not involve actual sexual contact or conduct. Rather, they involve possession of illegal sexual material such as child pornography.

+ What is the Ohio Sex Offender Registry?

Certain laws require that if you plead guilty or are found guilty by a jury that the State of Ohio register people as convicted sex offenders. Ohio maintains a sex offender registry that is broken down into three tiers. The tiers correspond to the level of intrusiveness that is required and is broken down as follows:

• Tier I Sex Offender: (least intrusive) Ohio Law requires offenders to “verify the offender’s current residence address or current school, institution of higher education, or place of employment address” (ORC 2950.06(B)). This must be done annually for 15 years at the Sheriff’s Department.

• Tier II Sex Offender: Ohio Law requires offenders to “verify the offender’s current residence address or current school, institution of higher education, or place of employment address” (ORC 2950.06(B)). This must be done every 180 days for 25 years at the Sheriff’s Department.

• Tier III Sex Offender: Ohio Law requires offenders to “verify the offender’s current residence address or current school, institution of higher education, or place of employment address” (ORC 2950.06(B)). This must be done every 90 days for life at the Sheriff’s Department.

+ What tiers do sex offenses fall under?

Tier I Sex Offenses

• Importuning

• Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a minor less than 4 years younger

• Voyeurism

• Sexual Imposition

• Gross Sexual Imposition

• Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance

• Child Enticement with Sexual Motivation

• Pandering Obscenity

• Menacing by Stalking with Sexual Motivation

• Unlawful Restraint with Sexual Motivation

*Any attempt, complicity, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses.

Tier II Sex Offenses

• Compelling Prostitution

• Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor

• Pandering Sexually Oriented Material Involving a Minor

• Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Material or Performance

• Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor more than 4 years younger

• Gross Sexual Imposition – Victim under 13

• Child Endangering – Enticing into sexually oriented matter

• Kidnapping with Sexual Motivation

• Kidnapping victim over 18

• Abduction with sexual motivation

*Any sex offense that occurs after offender has been classified as a Tier I offender/ Any attempt, complicity, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses.

Tier III Sex Offenses

• Rape

• Sexual Battery

• Aggravated Murder with Sexual Motivation

• Murder with Sexual Motivation

• Unlawful Death or termination of pregnancy as a result of committing or attempt to commit a felony with sexual motivation

• Kidnapping of minor to engage in sexual activity

• Kidnapping of minor, not by parent

• Gross Sexual Imposition

• Felonious Assault with Sexual Motivation

*Any offense that occurs after the offender is classified as a Tier II offender. Any offense with a Sexually Violent Predator specification. Any Attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses.

+ Click here for more information about sexual offense tiers.