Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04 (2026)

Unlawful sexual conduct with minor

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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, 164 N.E.3d 306.
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State v. Pendergrass (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-3335, 164 N.E.3d 306. · 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, 48 N.E.3d 516. · 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, 74 N.E.3d 368. · 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, 957 N.E.2d 55. · 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, 107 N.E.3d 754. · 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, 114 N.E.3d 1247. · 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. · 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. · 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. 10th Dist. 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. · 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-Ohio-3374, 952 N.E.2d 1108. · 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, 185 N.E.3d 176. · 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, 74 N.E.3d 368. “{¶ 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. “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, 107 N.E.3d 754. “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, 48 N.E.3d 516. “{¶ 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, 668 F.3d 804 (6th Cir. 2012).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(1): 3 cases
State v. Puckett, 2012-Ohio-4841.
In re A.J., 2022-Ohio-2669.
State v. Thacker, 2015-Ohio-4214.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(3): 7 cases
State v. Volpi, 2023-Ohio-4488, 231 N.E.3d 654.
State v. Kubat, 2015-Ohio-4062.
State v. Marquand, 2014-Ohio-698.
State v. Brannon, 2017-Ohio-628.
State v. Kubat, 2018-Ohio-3088.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(4): 9 cases
State v. Russell, 2020-Ohio-3243.
State v. Bennett, 2019-Ohio-4937, 149 N.E.3d 1045.
State v. Becker, 2014-Ohio-4565.
State v. Brand, 2023-Ohio-557, 209 N.E.3d 762.
State v. Collini, 2015-Ohio-4784.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(B)(1): 3 cases
State v. Heslop, 2012-Ohio-5118.
State v. Cutlip, 2012-Ohio-5790.
State v. Levy, 2011-Ohio-6378.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(B)(3): 19 cases
State v. Gessel, 2020-Ohio-403.
State v. Barrera, 2012-Ohio-3196.
State v. Clemons, 2011-Ohio-1177. “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.
State v. Heslop, 2012-Ohio-5118.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(B)(l): 1 case
State v. Schuller, 2020-Ohio-4261.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(b)(1): 1 case
State v. Velasquez, 2023-Ohio-3178.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(A)(b)(3): 1 case
State v. Brown, 2014-Ohio-2744.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(AX3): 1 case
State v. Robinson, 3 Ohio App. Unrep. 142 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1990).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B): 7 cases
State v. Pendergrass (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-3335, 164 N.E.3d 306. “{¶ 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.
State v. Clemons, 2011-Ohio-1177. “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.
State v. Fawn, 465 N.E.2d 896 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 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. “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, 114 N.E.3d 1247. “{¶ 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.
State v. Moore, 2014-Ohio-1123.
State v. Purvis, 2021-Ohio-265.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B)(2): 7 cases
State v. Blankenship (Slip Opinion), 2015-Ohio-4624, 48 N.E.3d 516. “{¶ 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. “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. 2d Dist. 2002).
State v. Lewis, 2019-Ohio-4193.
State v. Rutherford, 2020-Ohio-3934.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.04(B)(3): 26 cases
State v. Leopard, 2011-Ohio-3864, 957 N.E.2d 55. “{¶ 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, 48 N.E.3d 516. “{¶ 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.
State v. Spencer, 2019-Ohio-2165.
State v. Schentur, 2020-Ohio-1603. “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, 164 N.E.3d 306. “{¶ 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, 48 N.E.3d 516. “{¶ 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. “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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