Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.03 (2026)

Intimidation

✓ current as of May 2026
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(A) No person, knowingly and by force, by unlawful threat of harm to any person or property, or by filing, recording, or otherwise using a materially false or fraudulent writing with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner, shall attempt to influence, intimidate, or hinder a public servant, a party official, or an attorney or witness involved in a civil action or proceeding in the discharge of the person's the duties of the public servant, party official, attorney, or witness.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of intimidation, a felony of the third degree.

(C) A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to any person harmed by the violation for injury, death, or loss to person or property incurred as a result of the commission of the offense and for reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other expenses incurred as a result of prosecuting the civil action commenced under this division. A civil action under this division is not the exclusive remedy of a person who incurs injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of a violation of this section.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 109 cases (37 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: Buddenberg v. Weisdack (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3832 (Ohio 2020).
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Buddenberg v. Weisdack (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3832 (Ohio 2020). · cites it 24× “05 (retaliation); R.C. 2921.03 (intimidation); and R.C. 2921.”
State v. Steele, 2013 Ohio 2470 (Ohio 2013). · cites it 12× “We hold that R.C. 2921.03 provides no such exemption. A police officer may be convicted of intimidation when the state presents evidence that the police officer knowingly filed a materially false complaint in order to influence or intimidate a witness.”
State v. Grp., 2002 Ohio 7247 (Ohio 2002). · cites it 7× “Group, shot Robert Lozier to death during a robbery. Group was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death.”
State v. Kunzer, 2019 Ohio 2959 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 17× “{¶2} On February 6, 2018, Kunzer was indicted by the Crawford County Grand Jury on nineteen counts: Counts One, Two, Three, Eight, Ten, Eleven, Thirteen, Fifteen, Seventeen, and Nineteen of intimidation in violation of R.C. 2921.03, third-degree felonies; Counts Four, Five, and…”
State v. Kinstle, 2012 Ohio 5952 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 23× “{¶4} On May 25, 2011, Kinstle moved to dismiss the indictment on the basis that R.C. 2921.03 is unconstitutional. The trial court denied the motion on June 8, 2011.”
Stone v. Holzberger, 807 F. Supp. 1325 (S.D. Ohio 1992). · cites it 10× “Intimidation of a Witness The Sheriff’s defendants and the Butler County Commissioners contend that Ohio Revised Code § 2921.03 is inapplicable to the case at bar.”
State v. Simms, 844 N.E.2d 1212 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 5× “Simms, appeals the jury verdict rendered in the Athens County Common Pleas Court finding him guilty of intimidation, a felony of the third degree, contrary to R.C. 2921.03. Appellant contends that his conviction was (1) against the manifest weight of the evidence and (2) not…”
State v. Hodge, 2020 Ohio 3002 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 10× “{¶64} R.C. 2921.03 provides, (A) No person, knowingly and by force, by unlawful threat of harm to any person or property, or by filing, recording, or otherwise using a materially false or fraudulent writing with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner,…”
State v. Crider, 487 N.E.2d 911 (Ohio Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 6× “R.C. 2921.03. Crider argues that at the time of the intimidation there were no criminal proceedings pending and thus the victim was not a “witness.”
State v. Khaliq, 2017 Ohio 7136 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 5× “34(A)(4), a misdemeanor of the first degree; one count of attempting to influence, intimidate or hinder a public servant in the discharge of his or her duty, in violation of R.C. 2921.03, a felony of the third degree; and one count of impersonating a peace officer, in violation…”
Hicks v. Bryan Med. Grp., Inc., 287 F. Supp. 2d 795 (N.D. Ohio 2003). · cites it 5× “Hicks contends that there are four underlying unlawful acts to support his claim: (1) tortious interference with contract; (2) breach of contract; (3) wrongful discharge; and (4) violation of O.R.C. § 2921.03. The court will address each in turn.”
State ex rel. Steffen v. Court of Appeals, First Appellate Dist., 2010 Ohio 2430 (Ohio 2010). · cites it 2× “{¶ 10} “It is therefore ORDERED that Defendant David Steffen’s conviction as to Count Two of the Indictment be reduced from rape to attempted rape [R.C. 2921.03 as applied to R.C. 2907.02], a felony of the second degree; and it is further {¶ 11} “ORDERED that the previously…”
Show all 109 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.03(A) — 64 cases
State v. Grp., 2002 Ohio 7247 (Ohio 2002). “Group, shot Robert Lozier to death during a robbery. Group was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death.”
State v. Steele, 2013 Ohio 2470 (Ohio 2013). “We hold that R.C. 2921.03 provides no such exemption. A police officer may be convicted of intimidation when the state presents evidence that the police officer knowingly filed a materially false complaint in order to influence or intimidate a witness.”
Buddenberg v. Weisdack (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3832 (Ohio 2020). “05 (retaliation); R.C. 2921.03 (intimidation); and R.C. 2921.”
State v. Eaton, 2020 Ohio 3208 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
Stone v. Holzberger, 807 F. Supp. 1325 (S.D. Ohio 1992). “Intimidation of a Witness The Sheriff’s defendants and the Butler County Commissioners contend that Ohio Revised Code § 2921.03 is inapplicable to the case at bar.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.03(A)(B) — 2 cases
State v. Brown, 2017 Ohio 7704 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Jones, 2011 Ohio 1648 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.03(B) — 4 cases
Stone v. Holzberger, 807 F. Supp. 1325 (S.D. Ohio 1992). “Intimidation of a Witness The Sheriff’s defendants and the Butler County Commissioners contend that Ohio Revised Code § 2921.03 is inapplicable to the case at bar.”
State v. Jones, 2026 Ohio 634 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026).
State v. DeJarnette, 2011 Ohio 5672 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
Viola v. Ohio Attorney Gen. (N.D. Ohio 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.03(C) — 4 cases
Buddenberg v. Weisdack (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3832 (Ohio 2020). “05 (retaliation); R.C. 2921.03 (intimidation); and R.C. 2921.”
Daher v. Cuyahoga Cmty. Coll. Dist., 2021 Ohio 2103 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
Mayer v. Cuyahoga Cnty. (N.D. Ohio 2021).
Gipson v. Hamilton Cty. Clerk of Courts, 2024 Ohio 848 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.03(a) — 1 case
Viola v. Ohio Attorney Gen. (N.D. Ohio 2021).
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