Effective: September 30, 2011
Latest Legislation: House Bill 86 - 129th General Assembly
(A) No person shall destroy, damage, remove, or transfer property that is subject to forfeiture or otherwise take any action in regard to property that is subject to forfeiture with purpose to do any of the following:
(1) Prevent or impair the state's or political subdivision's lawful authority to take the property into its custody or control under this chapter or to continue holding the property under its lawful custody or control;
(2) Impair or defeat the court's continuing jurisdiction over the person and property;
(3) Devalue property that the person knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is subject to forfeiture proceedings under this chapter.
(B)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of interference with or diminishing forfeitable property.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(3), (4), and (5) of this section, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) If the value of the property is one thousand dollars or more but less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a felony of the fifth degree.
(4) If the value of the property is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more but less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a felony of the fourth degree.
(5) If the value of the property is one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a felony of the third degree.
Structure Ohio Revised Code
Section 2981.01 | Purposes of Forfeiture.
Section 2981.02 | Property Subject to Forfeiture.
Section 2981.03 | Provisional Title to Property Subject to Forfeiture.
Section 2981.04 | Charging Instrument - Forfeiture Order - Amendment.
Section 2981.05 | Civil Forfeiture Action.
Section 2981.06 | Seizure of Forfeited or Other Property - Disposition.
Section 2981.07 | Interference With or Diminishing Forfeitable Property.
Section 2981.08 | Right to Trial by Jury.
Section 2981.09 | Forfeiture of Property as Instrumentality Where Value Disproportionate.
Section 2981.11 | Care of Property in Law Enforcement Custody.
Section 2981.12 | Disposal of Unclaimed or Forfeited Property.
Section 2981.13 | Sale of Forfeited Property - Application of Proceeds - Forfeiture Funds.
Section 2981.14 | Forfeiture Under Federal Law; Disposition of Proceeds.