Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12 (2026)

Tampering with evidence

✓ current as of May 2026
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(A) No person, knowing that an official proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall do any of the following:

(1) Alter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or thing, with purpose to impair its value or availability as evidence in such proceeding or investigation;

(2) Make, present, or use any record, document, or thing, knowing it to be false and with purpose to mislead a public official who is or may be engaged in such proceeding or investigation, or with purpose to corrupt the outcome of any such proceeding or investigation.

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

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1,205 cases (477 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: State v. Shine-Johnson, 2018 Ohio 3347 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
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State v. Shine-Johnson, 2018 Ohio 3347 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 8× “02; and one count of tampering with evidence, in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A), arising from the fatal shooting of appellant's father, Joseph Bythewood ("Joe").”
State v. Martin (Slip Opinion), 2017 Ohio 7556 (Ohio 2017). · cites it 5× “Knowledge of Likely Investigation {¶ 115} Martin also argues that the state did not prove that when he burned the clothing, he knew “that an official proceeding or investigation [was] in progress, or [was] about to be or likely to be instituted,” R.”
State v. Straley (Slip Opinion), 2014 Ohio 2139 (Ohio 2014). · cites it 7× “11(A); and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree, in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A). She filed a motion to suppress all the statements she had made to law enforcement.”
State v. McKelton (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5735 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 2× “02(A)(2); tampering with evidence, R.C. 2921.12(A)(1); and intimidating a witness in a criminal case, R.”
State v. Shepherd, 2020 Ohio 3915 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 12× “12 sets forth the elements of the offense of tampering with evidence and provides, in relevant part: “No person, knowing that an official proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall * * * [a]lter, destroy, conceal, or remove…”
State v. Urbin, 772 N.E.2d 1239 (Ohio Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 8× “12(A)(1): {¶ 28} “No person, knowing that an official proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall do any of the following: {¶ 29} “(1) Alter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or thing, with purpose to impair…”
State v. Rock, 2014 Ohio 1786 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 9× “13-13-38 proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall * * * [a]lter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or thing, with purpose to impair its value or availability as evidence in such proceeding or investigation *…”
Jacobson v. Kaforey (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 8434 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 2× “In affirming the dismissal of the claim, the court stated: Arguably, [the tampering-with-evidence statute, R.C. 2921.12], coupled with R.C. 2307.60, does create a civil action for intentional spoliation of evidence.”
State v. Simes, 2016 Ohio 7300 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 6× “25(A); and (4) tampering with evidence, in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1). Appellant pled not guilty to the indictment, and the matter proceeded to trial.”
State v. Evans, 2020 Ohio 3968 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 6× “02(A)(1) (Counts 2 and 4); two counts of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1) (C0unts 16 and 20); and single counts of felonious assault in violation of R.”
State v. McGee, 2016 Ohio 7510 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “12(A) and tampering with evidence under R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), because the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to support those convictions and they were against the manifest weight of the evidence.”
State v. Brown, 2017 Ohio 8416 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “He was subsequently indicted on one count of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1). The State filed a bill of particulars in both cases.”
Show all 1,205 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A) — 65 cases
State v. Martin (Slip Opinion), 2017 Ohio 7556 (Ohio 2017). “Knowledge of Likely Investigation {¶ 115} Martin also argues that the state did not prove that when he burned the clothing, he knew “that an official proceeding or investigation [was] in progress, or [was] about to be or likely to be instituted,” R.”
State v. Shine-Johnson, 2018 Ohio 3347 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). “02; and one count of tampering with evidence, in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A), arising from the fatal shooting of appellant's father, Joseph Bythewood ("Joe").”
State v. Straley (Slip Opinion), 2014 Ohio 2139 (Ohio 2014). “11(A); and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree, in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A). She filed a motion to suppress all the statements she had made to law enforcement.”
State v. Heiney, 2018 Ohio 3408 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Rock, 2014 Ohio 1786 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). “13-13-38 proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall * * * [a]lter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or thing, with purpose to impair its value or availability as evidence in such proceeding or investigation *…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A)(1) — 908 cases
State v. Shine-Johnson, 2018 Ohio 3347 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). “02; and one count of tampering with evidence, in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A), arising from the fatal shooting of appellant's father, Joseph Bythewood ("Joe").”
State v. Straley (Slip Opinion), 2014 Ohio 2139 (Ohio 2014). “11(A); and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree, in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A). She filed a motion to suppress all the statements she had made to law enforcement.”
State v. McKelton (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5735 (Ohio 2016). “02(A)(2); tampering with evidence, R.C. 2921.12(A)(1); and intimidating a witness in a criminal case, R.”
State v. Martin (Slip Opinion), 2017 Ohio 7556 (Ohio 2017). “Knowledge of Likely Investigation {¶ 115} Martin also argues that the state did not prove that when he burned the clothing, he knew “that an official proceeding or investigation [was] in progress, or [was] about to be or likely to be instituted,” R.”
State v. Shepherd, 2020 Ohio 3915 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “12 sets forth the elements of the offense of tampering with evidence and provides, in relevant part: “No person, knowing that an official proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall * * * [a]lter, destroy, conceal, or remove…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A)(1)(2)(B) — 1 case
State v. Morlock, 2024 Ohio 429 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A)(1)(B) — 31 cases
State v. Alexander-Lindsey, 2016 Ohio 3033 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Watson, 2023 Ohio 3137 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Benson, 2019 Ohio 4635 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Ahmad, 2017 Ohio 6991 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Becker, 2023 Ohio 601 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A)(1)(b) — 1 case
State v. Rudolph, 2019 Ohio 468 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A)(14) — 1 case
State v. Burns, 2012 Ohio 3100 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A)(2) — 53 cases
State v. Wells, 2021 Ohio 2585 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Dendinger, 2023 Ohio 4255 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Demastry, 2011 Ohio 1320 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Trivett, 2016 Ohio 8204 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Pelfrey, 2018 Ohio 2427 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(A)(2)(B) — 1 case
State v. Goetz, 2019 Ohio 5424 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(AX3) — 1 case
State v. Bolyard, 587 N.E.2d 380 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(B) — 13 cases
State v. Stevens, 2023 Ohio 3280 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Carpenter, 2023 Ohio 2838 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Estep, 2012 Ohio 6296 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Williams, 2024 Ohio 2078 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Kern, 2024 Ohio 5976 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(B)(6) — 1 case
State v. Ali, 2019 Ohio 3192 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(B)(7) — 1 case
State v. Breneman, 2014 Ohio 4700 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(D) — 1 case
State v. Cuffie, 2020 Ohio 4844 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.12(a)(1) — 1 case
State v. Little, 2018 Ohio 2864 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
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