Ohio § 5924.120

Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 5924.120, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 5924.120.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Affirmative defense ” means any special defense that, although not denying that the accused committed

the objective acts constituting the offense charged, denies, in whole or in part,

criminal responsibility for those acts. (2) “ Bodily harm ” means any offensive touching of another, however slight, that does not result in

grievous bodily harm. (3) “ Consent ” means words or overt acts indicating a freely given agreement to the sexual conduct

at issue by a competent person. (4) “ Dangerous weapon or object ” means any of the following: (a) Any firearm, whether loaded or not and whether operable or not; (b) Any other weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, whether animate or

inanimate, that as used or intended to be used is known to be capable of producing

death or grievous bodily harm; (c) Any object fashioned or used in such a manner as to lead a person on whom the object

is used or threatened to be used to reasonably believe under the circumstances that

the object is capable of producing death or grievous bodily harm. (5) “ Force ” means action to compel submission of another or to overcome or prevent another's

resistance by either of the following: (a) The use, display, or suggestion of possession of a dangerous weapon or object; (b) Physical violence, strength, power, or restraint applied to another person sufficient

to prevent the other person from avoiding or escaping sexual contact. (6) “ Grievous bodily harm ” means serious bodily injury, including but not limited to fractured or dislocated

bones, deep cuts, torn members of the body, and serious damage to internal organs. (7) “ Indecent conduct ” means that form of immorality relating to sexual impurity that is grossly vulgar,

obscene, and repugnant to common propriety and tends to excite sexual desire or deprave

morals with respect to sexual relations.  Indecent conduct includes observing or making a videotape, photograph, motion picture,

print, negative, slide, or other mechanically, electronically, or chemically reproduced

visual material, without another person's consent and contrary to that other person's

reasonable expectation of privacy, of either of the following: (a) That other person's genitalia, anus, or buttocks, or, if that other person is female,

that person's areola or nipple; (b) That other person while that other person is engaged in a sexual act, sexual contact,

or sodomy. (8) “ Lesser degree of harm ” means any of the following: (a) Physical injury to the person or property of a person other than the victim of the

offense; (b) A threat to do any of the following: (i) Accuse any person of a crime; (ii) Expose a secret or publicize an asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to

subject some person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule; (iii) Through the use or abuse of military position, rank, or authority, to affect or threaten

to affect, either positively or negatively, the military career of some person. (9) “ Mistake of fact as to consent ” means a belief that is incorrect, as a result of ignorance or mistake, that a person

engaging in sexual conduct consented to engage in that conduct, if both of the following

apply: (a) The ignorance or mistake existed in the mind of the accused at the time the sexual

conduct in issue occurred and was based on information or lack of information that

would have indicated to a reasonable person that the other person consented; (b) The ignorance or mistake was not based on the accused's failure to discover facts

that a reasonably careful person would have discovered under the same or similar circumstances. (10) “ Sexual act ” means either of the following: (a) Contact between the penis and the vulva, including any penetration, however slight; (b) Anal intercourse, fellatio, and cunnilingus between persons, regardless of sex; (c) The penetration, however slight, of the genital opening of another by a hand or finger

or any object with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, or degrade any person or

to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. (11) “ Sexual contact ” means the intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the genitalia,

anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of another person with an intent to

abuse, humiliate, or degrade any person or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire

of any person. (12) “ Sexual conduct ” means any act that is prohibited by this section. (13)(a) For purposes of divisions (B) and (D) of this section, “ threatening or placing that other person in fear ” means making a communication or performing an action of sufficient consequence to

cause that other person to reasonably fear that noncompliance will result in that

person or another being subjected to death, grievous bodily harm, or kidnapping. (b) For purposes of divisions (C) and (E) of this section, “ threatening or placing that other person in fear ” means making a communication or performing an action of sufficient consequence to

cause a victim of the offense to reasonably fear that noncompliance will result in

the victim or another being subjected to a lesser degree of harm than death, grievous

bodily harm, or kidnapping. (B) Any person subject to this chapter who causes another person of any age to engage

in a sexual act by doing any of the following is guilty of rape and shall be punished

as a court-martial may direct: (1) Using force against that other person; (2) Causing grievous bodily harm to any person; (3) Threatening or placing that other person in fear; (4) Rendering another person unconscious; (5) Administering to another person by force or threat of force, or without the knowledge

or permission of that person, a drug, intoxicant, or other similar substance that

substantially impairs the ability of that other person to appraise or control conduct. (C) Any person subject to this chapter who does either of the following is guilty of

aggravated sexual assault and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct: (1) Causes another person of any age to engage in a sexual act by doing either of the

following: (a) Threatening or placing that other person in fear; (b) Causing bodily harm. (2) Engages in a sexual act with another person of any age if that other person is substantially

incapable of doing any of the following: (a) Appraising the nature of the sexual act; (b) Declining to participate in the sexual act; (c) Communicating unwillingness to engage in the sexual act. (D) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in sexual contact or causes sexual

contact with or by another person by doing any of the following is guilty of aggravated

sexual contact and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct: (1) Using force against that other person; (2) Causing grievous bodily harm to any person; (3) Threatening or placing that other person in fear; (4) Rendering another person unconscious; (5) Administering to another person by force or threat of force, or without the knowledge

or permission of that person, a drug, intoxicant, or other similar substance that

substantially impairs the ability of that other person to appraise or control conduct. (E) Any person subject to this chapter who does either of the following is guilty of

abusive sexual contact and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct: (1) Engages in or causes sexual contact with or by another person by doing either of

the following: (a) Threatening or placing that other person in fear; (b) Causing bodily harm. (2) Engages in sexual contact with another person of any age if that other person is

substantially incapable of doing any of the following: (a) Appraising the nature of the sexual contact; (b) Declining to participate in the sexual contact; (c) Communicating unwillingness to engage in the sexual contact. (F) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in indecent conduct is guilty of an

indecent act and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. (G) Any person subject to this chapter who, without legal justification or lawful authorization,

engages in sexual contact with another person without that other person's permission

is guilty of wrongful sexual contact and shall be punished as a court-martial may

direct. (H) Any person subject to this chapter who intentionally exposes, in an indecent manner,

in any place where the conduct involved may reasonably be expected to be viewed by

people other than members of the person's family or household, the person's genitalia,

anus, buttock, or female areola or nipple is guilty of indecent exposure and shall

be punished as a court-martial may direct. (I) In a prosecution under this section, in proving that the accused made a threat, it

need not be proven that the accused actually intended to carry out the threat. (J)(1) In a prosecution under division (C)(2), (G), or (H) of this section, it is an affirmative

defense that the accused and the other person, when they engaged in the sexual conduct

were married to each other. (2) Division (J)(1) of this section does not apply if the accused's intent at the time

of the sexual conduct is to abuse, humiliate, or degrade any person. (K)(1) Lack of permission is an element of the offense under division (G) of this section.  Consent and mistake of fact as to consent are affirmative defenses only to the sexual

conduct in issue in a prosecution under division (B), (C), (D), or (E) of this section. (2) The enumeration in this section of some affirmative defenses shall not be construed

as excluding the existence of other affirmative defenses. (3) The accused has the burden of proving an affirmative defense by a preponderance of

evidence.  After the defense meets this burden, the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond

a reasonable doubt that the affirmative defense did not exist. (L)(1) An expression of lack of consent through words or conduct means there is no consent.  Lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from an accused's

use of force, threat of force, or placing another person in fear does not constitute

consent.  A current or previous dating relationship by itself or the manner of dress of a

person involved with the accused in the sexual conduct does not constitute consent. (2) A person cannot consent to sexual conduct if the person is substantially incapable

of any of the following: (a) Appraising the nature of the sexual conduct due to mental impairment or unconsciousness

resulting from consumption of alcohol, drugs, or a similar substance or any other

cause or to mental disease or defect that renders the person unable to understand

the nature of the sexual conduct; (b) Physically declining to participate in the sexual conduct; (c) Physically communicating unwillingness to engage in the sexual conduct. (M) An accused's state of intoxication, if any, at the time of an offense under this

section occurs is not relevant to the existence of a mistake of fact as to consent.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 5924.120

What does Ohio Revised Code § 5924.120 cover?

Section 5924.120 is part of the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutory law of Ohio. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Ohio § 5924.120?

A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 5924.120" (Ohio). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Ohio law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Ohio official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Ohio attorney.

How does Ohio § 5924.120 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Ohio can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Ohio.