(1) "Strangulation or suffocation" means any act that impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure to the throat or neck, or by covering the nose and mouth.
(2) "Dating relationship" has the same meaning as in section 3113.31 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Family or household member" has the same meaning as in section 2919.25 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Person with whom the offender is or was in a dating relationship" means a person who at the time of the conduct in question is in a dating relationship with the defendant or who, within the twelve months preceding the conduct in question, has had a dating relationship with the defendant.
(B) No person shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) Cause serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation;
(2) Create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation;
(3) Cause or create a substantial risk of physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation.
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of strangulation.
(1) A violation of division (B)(1) of this section is a felony of the second degree.
(2) A violation of division (B)(2) of this section is a felony of the third degree.
(3) A violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. If the victim of the violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a family or household member, or is a person with whom the offender is or was in a dating relationship, a violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. If the victim of the offense is a family or household member, or is a person with whom the offender is or was in a dating relationship, and the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense of violence, or if the offender knew that the victim of the violation was pregnant at the time of the violation, a violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a felony of the third degree.
(D) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (B) of this section that the act was done as part of a medical or other procedure undertaken to aid or benefit the victim.
Last updated March 9, 2023 at 5:13 PM
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 82
cases (82 in the last 5 years), 2023–2026 · leading case: State v. Williams, 2024-Ohio-5578, 258 N.E.3d 658.
State v. Williams, 2024-Ohio-5578, 258 N.E.3d 658. · cites it 4ד02(A)(2), a felony of the second degree; Count Ten: Strangulation, R.C. 2903.18(B)(2), a felony of the third degree; Count Eleven: Strangulation, R.”
State v. Osborne, 2024-Ohio-2173, 245 N.E.3d 438. · cites it 10דR.C. 2903.18(B), which governs the offense of strangulation or suffocation, states that no person shall knowingly: (1) Cause serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation; (2) Create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another by means of…”
State v. Blanton, 2025-Ohio-237, 261 N.E.3d 604. · cites it 3דTrial counsel was ineffective in advising his client to plead guilty to four counts of attempted murder and four counts of felonious assault when Ohio enacted R.C. 2903.18, the strangulation of [sic] suffocation statute, which is applicable to this case and imposes lesser…”
State v. Carpenter, 2026-Ohio-116. · cites it 4דFinally, R.C. 2903.18(A)(1) defines “strangulation or suffocation” as “any act that impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure to the throat or neck, or by covering the nose and mouth.”
State v. Chambers, 2024-Ohio-3341. “” R.C. 2903.18(A)(1). Moreover, V.L.’s report of being strangled is bolstered by the physical signs of strangulation that Jones observed when he came to the hospital, including petechiae inside his mouth, crescent-shaped abrasions along his jawline, and swelling on his CT…”
State v. Tripplett, 2023-Ohio-4644, 232 N.E.3d 304. “See generally R.C. 2903.18(B). Neither Tripplett nor the majority have discussed the implications of R.”
State v. Black, 2024-Ohio-2365. · cites it 3דin violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(2); two counts of strangulation of R.”
State v. Goldsby, 2025-Ohio-967, 267 N.E.3d 762. · cites it 3ד11(A)(1); Count 2, strangulation in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(2); Count 3, strangulation in violation of R.”
State v. Sanders, 2024-Ohio-2235. “11(A)(2), a felony of the first degree; one count of strangulation, in violation of §2903.18(B)(2), a felony of the third degree.”
State v. Flowers, 2025-Ohio-2071. · cites it 2ד11(A)(1) and (2), respectively; Count 4 charged strangulation in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(1), a second-degree felony; Counts 5 and 6 charged strangulation in violation of R.”
State v. Facemire, 2025-Ohio-1500. “2023 CR 01369, Facemire entered a plea of guilty to Strangulation, a felony of the fifth degree, in violation of R.C. 2903.18 on February 15, 2024. He was ordered to serve a term of community control and subsequently ordered to complete NEOCAP following a motion to revoke…”
State v. Normile, 2026-Ohio-1052. · cites it 9דCount 1 charged Normile with strangulation in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(2), a third- degree felony.”
State v. Chambers, 2024-Ohio-3341. “” R.C. 2903.18(A)(1). Moreover, V.L.’s report of being strangled is bolstered by the physical signs of strangulation that Jones observed when he came to the hospital, including petechiae inside his mouth, crescent-shaped abrasions along his jawline, and swelling on his CT…”
State v. Carpenter, 2026-Ohio-116. “Finally, R.C. 2903.18(A)(1) defines “strangulation or suffocation” as “any act that impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure to the throat or neck, or by covering the nose and mouth.”
State v. Tripplett, 2023-Ohio-4644, 232 N.E.3d 304. “See generally R.C. 2903.18(B). Neither Tripplett nor the majority have discussed the implications of R.”
State v. Osborne, 2024-Ohio-2173, 245 N.E.3d 438. “R.C. 2903.18(B), which governs the offense of strangulation or suffocation, states that no person shall knowingly: (1) Cause serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation; (2) Create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another by means of…”
State v. Flowers, 2025-Ohio-2071. “11(A)(1) and (2), respectively; Count 4 charged strangulation in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(1), a second-degree felony; Counts 5 and 6 charged strangulation in violation of R.”
State v. Williams, 2024-Ohio-5578, 258 N.E.3d 658. “02(A)(2), a felony of the second degree; Count Ten: Strangulation, R.C. 2903.18(B)(2), a felony of the third degree; Count Eleven: Strangulation, R.”
State v. Osborne, 2024-Ohio-2173, 245 N.E.3d 438. “R.C. 2903.18(B), which governs the offense of strangulation or suffocation, states that no person shall knowingly: (1) Cause serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation; (2) Create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another by means of…”
State v. Sanders, 2024-Ohio-2235. “11(A)(2), a felony of the first degree; one count of strangulation, in violation of §2903.18(B)(2), a felony of the third degree.”
State v. Black, 2024-Ohio-2365. “in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(2); two counts of strangulation of R.”
State v. Williams, 2024-Ohio-5578, 258 N.E.3d 658. “02(A)(2), a felony of the second degree; Count Ten: Strangulation, R.C. 2903.18(B)(2), a felony of the third degree; Count Eleven: Strangulation, R.”
State v. Osborne, 2024-Ohio-2173, 245 N.E.3d 438. “R.C. 2903.18(B), which governs the offense of strangulation or suffocation, states that no person shall knowingly: (1) Cause serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation; (2) Create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another by means of…”
State v. Carpenter, 2026-Ohio-116. “Finally, R.C. 2903.18(A)(1) defines “strangulation or suffocation” as “any act that impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure to the throat or neck, or by covering the nose and mouth.”
State v. Black, 2024-Ohio-2365. “in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(2); two counts of strangulation of R.”
State v. Goldsby, 2025-Ohio-967, 267 N.E.3d 762. “11(A)(1); Count 2, strangulation in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(2); Count 3, strangulation in violation of R.”
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