Ohio law treats fraud as both a kind of theft and as a method for committing theft. Penalties for fraud include jail time, large fines, and restitution. Importantly for anyone charged with fraud, a conviction requires proving to a judge or jury that the accused defendant intended to defraud someone or to steal money or property in a fraudulent manner. Working with an experienced Columbus Ohio criminal defense attorney can help prevent a misunderstanding over ownership or permission to escalate into a criminal record. Continue reading →

Ohio law enforcement considers receiving stolen property an act of theft and fraud. That is, even though a person accused of receiving stolen property did not steal anything or illegally deprive anyone of anything of value, the legal system treats the person as a thief or a perpetrator of fraud.

What Counts as a Crime?

Here is what section 2913.51 says specifically about the alleged offense: “No person shall receive, retain, or dispose of property of another knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the property has been obtained through commission of a theft offense.” Continue reading →

Even as an experienced Columbus, Ohio, criminal defense attorney, I occasionally find myself surprised and amused by a BuzzFeed or Cracked-type list of weird laws that include entries like “Elephants wearing top hats are prohibited” and “No person shall give alcohol to fish.” But—and, again, as a criminal defense lawyer—I know that many Ohioans run afoul of the law unintentionally simply because they do not realize certain statutes exists. Continue reading →

The criminal consequences of disorderly conduct in Ohio can be severe in relation to the actual offense. The law is also quite broadly written and interpreted, putting school children at particular risk for arrest and criminal punishments.

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