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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04 (2026)

Unlawful sexual conduct with minor

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
August 9, 2024
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 161 - 135th General Assembly
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(A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another when the offender knows the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, or the offender is reckless in that regard.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the fourth degree.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, if the offender is less than four years older than the other person, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, if the offender is ten or more years older than the other person, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the third degree.

(4) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the Revised Code or a violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the second degree.

Last updated June 5, 2024 at 1:38 PM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 485 cases (146 in the last 5 years), 1964–2026 · leading case: State v. Pendergrass (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3335 (Ohio 2020).
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State v. Pendergrass (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3335 (Ohio 2020). · cites it 29× “{¶ 1} The statute that criminalizes unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, R.C. 2907.04, says that an offender is subject to an enhanced penalty if he SUPREME COURT OF OHIO “previously has been convicted of” certain listed sex crimes.”
State v. Blankenship (Slip Opinion), 2015 Ohio 4624 (Ohio 2015). · cites it 26× “{¶ 1} Appellant, Travis Blankenship, challenges as cruel and unusual punishment the sex-offender-registration and address-verification requirements imposed upon him as part of his sentence for violating R.C. 2907.04 by engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with M.”
State v. Mole (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5124 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 8× “{¶ 5} Mole was charged with one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, R.C. 2907.04, which prohibits sexual conduct with a minor between the ages of 13 and 15 years old when the offender is 18 or older and knows the other person’s 2 January Term, 2016 age or is reckless…”
State v. Leopard, 2011 Ohio 3864 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 6× “{¶ 4} Based on the foregoing activity, Leopard was indicted on six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, in violation of R.C. 2907.04 (A), with specifications that he was ten or more years older than his victims.”
Phipps v. State, 2018 Ohio 720 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 14× “The state apparently abandoned this argument, because the state did not raise it at the hearing on Phipps’s motion to vacate the sexual-predator classification—in fact, the prosecutor specifically stated at the hearing that the statute to be considered was R.C. 2907.04—or on…”
State v. Thomas, 2018 Ohio 2815 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 13× “{¶ 19} Nevertheless, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04 requires a Tier II sex offender label under R.”
State v. Maggette, 2016 Ohio 5554 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “Maggette (“Maggette”), appeals the February 10, 2016 judgment entry of sentence journalizing his conviction by a jury for one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, in violation of R.C. 2907.04(A),(B)(3), a felony of the third degree, and one count of sexual imposition,…”
State v. Schentur, 2020 Ohio 1603 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 11× “In this case, Schentur was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04, which states that, (A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender,…”
State v. Fawn, 465 N.E.2d 896 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 20× “, appeals his convictions on four counts of corruption of a minor (R.C. 2907.04). The victim, a thirteen-year-old girl, testified that she had engaged in sexual intercourse with defendant, who was about thirty-five years of age.”
State v. Clemons, 2011 Ohio 1177 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 12× “BOTH THE CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES ARE CONTRARY TO LAW UNDER THE VERSION OF R.C. 2907.04 THAT WAS EFFECTIVE IN 1998, THE DATE THAT THE OFFENSES WERE COMMITTED.”
State v. Williams, 2011 OH 3374 (Ohio 2011). · cites it 2× “Factual and Procedural Background {¶ 1} In November 2007, appellant, George Williams, was indicted for unlawful sexual contact with a minor, a felony of the fourth degree under R.C. 2907.04. The indictment stated that Williams, "being eighteen years of age or older, did engage…”
State v. Wilson, 2022 Ohio 504 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “41(B)(1)(c) include unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04; criminal damaging or endangering in violation of R.”
Show all 485 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A) — 338 cases
State v. Mole (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5124 (Ohio 2016). “{¶ 5} Mole was charged with one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, R.C. 2907.04, which prohibits sexual conduct with a minor between the ages of 13 and 15 years old when the offender is 18 or older and knows the other person’s 2 January Term, 2016 age or is reckless…”
State v. Maggette, 2016 Ohio 5554 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “Maggette (“Maggette”), appeals the February 10, 2016 judgment entry of sentence journalizing his conviction by a jury for one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, in violation of R.C. 2907.04(A),(B)(3), a felony of the third degree, and one count of sexual imposition,…”
Phipps v. State, 2018 Ohio 720 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). “The state apparently abandoned this argument, because the state did not raise it at the hearing on Phipps’s motion to vacate the sexual-predator classification—in fact, the prosecutor specifically stated at the hearing that the statute to be considered was R.C. 2907.04—or on…”
State v. Blankenship (Slip Opinion), 2015 Ohio 4624 (Ohio 2015). “{¶ 1} Appellant, Travis Blankenship, challenges as cruel and unusual punishment the sex-offender-registration and address-verification requirements imposed upon him as part of his sentence for violating R.C. 2907.04 by engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with M.”
Phillips v. Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton Cnty., 668 F.3d 804 (6th Cir. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(1) — 3 cases
State v. Puckett, 2012 Ohio 4841 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
In re A.J., 2022 Ohio 2669 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
State v. Thacker, 2015 Ohio 4214 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(3) — 7 cases
State v. Volpi, 2023 Ohio 4488 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Kubat, 2015 Ohio 4062 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Marquand, 2014 Ohio 698 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Brannon, 2017 Ohio 628 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Kubat, 2018 Ohio 3088 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(4) — 9 cases
State v. Russell, 2020 Ohio 3243 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Bennett, 2019 Ohio 4937 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Becker, 2014 Ohio 4565 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Brand, 2023 Ohio 557 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Collini, 2015 Ohio 4784 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(B)(1) — 3 cases
State v. Heslop, 2012 Ohio 5118 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Cutlip, 2012 Ohio 5790 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Levy, 2011 Ohio 6378 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(B)(3) — 19 cases
State v. Gessel, 2020 Ohio 403 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Barrera, 2012 Ohio 3196 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Clemons, 2011 Ohio 1177 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “BOTH THE CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES ARE CONTRARY TO LAW UNDER THE VERSION OF R.C. 2907.04 THAT WAS EFFECTIVE IN 1998, THE DATE THAT THE OFFENSES WERE COMMITTED.”
State v. Triplett, 2013 Ohio 5190 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Heslop, 2012 Ohio 5118 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(B)(l) — 1 case
State v. Schuller, 2020 Ohio 4261 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(b)(1) — 1 case
State v. Velasquez, 2023 Ohio 3178 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(b)(3) — 1 case
State v. Brown, 2014 Ohio 2744 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(AX3) — 1 case
State v. Robinson, 3 Ohio App. Unrep. 142 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B) — 7 cases
State v. Pendergrass (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3335 (Ohio 2020). “{¶ 1} The statute that criminalizes unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, R.C. 2907.04, says that an offender is subject to an enhanced penalty if he SUPREME COURT OF OHIO “previously has been convicted of” certain listed sex crimes.”
State v. Neal, 2016 Ohio 64 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Clemons, 2011 Ohio 1177 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “BOTH THE CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES ARE CONTRARY TO LAW UNDER THE VERSION OF R.C. 2907.04 THAT WAS EFFECTIVE IN 1998, THE DATE THAT THE OFFENSES WERE COMMITTED.”
State v. McLoughlin, 2018 Ohio 2426 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Fawn, 465 N.E.2d 896 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983). “, appeals his convictions on four counts of corruption of a minor (R.C. 2907.04). The victim, a thirteen-year-old girl, testified that she had engaged in sexual intercourse with defendant, who was about thirty-five years of age.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B)(1) — 8 cases
State v. Schentur, 2020 Ohio 1603 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “In this case, Schentur was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04, which states that, (A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender,…”
State v. Thomas, 2018 Ohio 2815 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). “{¶ 19} Nevertheless, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04 requires a Tier II sex offender label under R.”
State v. Triplett, 2013 Ohio 5190 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Moore, 2014 Ohio 1123 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Purvis, 2021 Ohio 265 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B)(2) — 7 cases
State v. Blankenship (Slip Opinion), 2015 Ohio 4624 (Ohio 2015). “{¶ 1} Appellant, Travis Blankenship, challenges as cruel and unusual punishment the sex-offender-registration and address-verification requirements imposed upon him as part of his sentence for violating R.C. 2907.04 by engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with M.”
State v. Schentur, 2020 Ohio 1603 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “In this case, Schentur was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04, which states that, (A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender,…”
State v. Thompson, 782 N.E.2d 688 (Ohio Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Lewis, 2019 Ohio 4193 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Rutherford, 2020 Ohio 3934 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B)(3) — 26 cases
State v. Leopard, 2011 Ohio 3864 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “{¶ 4} Based on the foregoing activity, Leopard was indicted on six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, in violation of R.C. 2907.04 (A), with specifications that he was ten or more years older than his victims.”
State v. Blankenship (Slip Opinion), 2015 Ohio 4624 (Ohio 2015). “{¶ 1} Appellant, Travis Blankenship, challenges as cruel and unusual punishment the sex-offender-registration and address-verification requirements imposed upon him as part of his sentence for violating R.C. 2907.04 by engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with M.”
State v. Lewis, 2021 Ohio 1575 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Spencer, 2019 Ohio 2165 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Schentur, 2020 Ohio 1603 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “In this case, Schentur was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04, which states that, (A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender,…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B)(4) — 3 cases
State v. Pendergrass (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3335 (Ohio 2020). “{¶ 1} The statute that criminalizes unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, R.C. 2907.04, says that an offender is subject to an enhanced penalty if he SUPREME COURT OF OHIO “previously has been convicted of” certain listed sex crimes.”
State v. Blankenship (Slip Opinion), 2015 Ohio 4624 (Ohio 2015). “{¶ 1} Appellant, Travis Blankenship, challenges as cruel and unusual punishment the sex-offender-registration and address-verification requirements imposed upon him as part of his sentence for violating R.C. 2907.04 by engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with M.”
State v. Schentur, 2020 Ohio 1603 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “In this case, Schentur was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04, which states that, (A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender,…”
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