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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13 (2026)

Falsification - in theft offense - to purchase firearm

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
September 30, 2025
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly
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(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies:

(1) The statement is made in any official proceeding.

(2) The statement is made with purpose to incriminate another.

(3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in performing the public official's official function.

(4) The statement is made with purpose to secure the payment of unemployment compensation; Ohio works first; prevention, retention, and contingency benefits and services; disability financial assistance; retirement benefits or health care coverage from a state retirement system; economic development assistance, as defined in section 9.66 of the Revised Code; or other benefits administered by a governmental agency or paid out of a public treasury.

(5) The statement is made with purpose to secure the issuance by a governmental agency of a license, permit, authorization, certificate, registration, release, or provider agreement.

(6) The statement is sworn or affirmed before a notary public or another person empowered to administer oaths.

(7) The statement is in writing on or in connection with a report or return that is required or authorized by law.

(8) The statement is in writing and is made with purpose to induce another to extend credit to or employ the offender, to confer any degree, diploma, certificate of attainment, award of excellence, or honor on the offender, or to extend to or bestow upon the offender any other valuable benefit or distinction, when the person to whom the statement is directed relies upon it to that person's detriment.

(9) The statement is made with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a theft offense.

(10) The statement is knowingly made to a probate court in connection with any action, proceeding, or other matter within its jurisdiction, either orally or in a written document, including, but not limited to, an application, petition, complaint, or other pleading, or an inventory, account, or report.

(11) The statement is made on an account, form, record, stamp, label, or other writing that is required by law.

(12) The statement is made in connection with the purchase of a firearm, as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code, and in conjunction with the furnishing to the seller of the firearm of a fictitious or altered driver's or commercial driver's license or permit, a fictitious or altered identification card, or any other document that contains false information about the purchaser's identity.

(13) The statement is made in a document or instrument of writing that purports to be a judgment, lien, or claim of indebtedness and is filed or recorded with the secretary of state, a county recorder, or the clerk of a court of record.

(14) The statement is made in an application filed with a county sheriff pursuant to section 2923.125 of the Revised Code in order to obtain or renew a concealed handgun license or is made in an affidavit submitted to a county sheriff to obtain a concealed handgun license on a temporary emergency basis under section 2923.1213 of the Revised Code.

(15) The statement is required under section 5743.71 of the Revised Code in connection with the person's purchase of cigarettes or tobacco products in a delivery sale.

(16) The statement is made to the department of children and youth in connection with the Ohio adoption grant program for the purpose of qualifying for or obtaining an adoption grant under sections 5101.19 to 5101.194 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person, in connection with the purchase of a firearm, as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code, shall knowingly furnish to the seller of the firearm a fictitious or altered driver's or commercial driver's license or permit, a fictitious or altered identification card, or any other document that contains false information about the purchaser's identity.

(C) No person, in an attempt to obtain a concealed handgun license under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code, shall knowingly present to a sheriff a fictitious or altered document that purports to be certification of the person's competence in handling a handgun as described in division (B)(3) of that section.

(D) It is no defense to a charge under division (A)(6) of this section that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner.

(E) If contradictory statements relating to the same fact are made by the offender within the period of the statute of limitations for falsification, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove which statement was false but only that one or the other was false.

(F)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11), (13), (15), or (16) of this section is guilty of falsification. Except as otherwise provided in this division, falsification is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2) Whoever violates division (A)(9) of this section is guilty of falsification in a theft offense. Except as otherwise provided in this division, falsification in a theft offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is one thousand dollars or more and is less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, falsification in a theft offense is a felony of the fifth degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more and is less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars, falsification in a theft offense is a felony of the fourth degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, falsification in a theft offense is a felony of the third degree.

(3) Whoever violates division (A)(12) or (B) of this section is guilty of falsification to purchase a firearm, a felony of the fifth degree.

(4) Whoever violates division (A)(14) or (C) of this section is guilty of falsification to obtain a concealed handgun license, a felony of the fourth degree.

(5) Whoever violates division (A) of this section in removal proceedings under section 319.26, 321.37, 507.13, or 733.78 of the Revised Code is guilty of falsification regarding a removal proceeding, a felony of the third degree.

(G) 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.

Last updated July 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 230 cases (63 in the last 5 years), 1981–2026 · leading case: Morrow v. Reminger & Reminger Co., 915 N.E.2d 696 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009).
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Morrow v. Reminger & Reminger Co., 915 N.E.2d 696 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 6× “11; falsifica *48 tion, in violation of R.C. 2921.13; intentional infliction of emotional distress; tortious interference with contract business relations; malicious prosecution; and abuse of process.”
State v. Sufronko, 664 N.E.2d 596 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 11× “” Under the falsification statute, R.C. 2921.13 prohibits the making of a false statement under specific circumstances.”
State v. Lazzaro, 667 N.E.2d 384 (Ohio 1996). · cites it 9× “At trial, Lazzaro was found guilty of violating R.C. 2921.13, Ohio’s falsification statute, which provides: “(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies: a ‡…”
State v. Davis, 2017 Ohio 5613 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 8× “31), falsification (R.C. 2921.13), and failure to disclose personal information (R.”
Hershey v. Edelman, 932 N.E.2d 386 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 10× “{¶ 27} The trial court found defendant’s counterclaim for falsification, filed pursuant to R.C. 2921.13, to be improper because R.C.”
Buddenberg v. Weisdack (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3832 (Ohio 2020). · cites it 4× “And we are not persuaded by petitioners’ argument that the “commission of the offense” necessarily means that a formal declaration of criminal guilt has occurred. {¶ 19} R.C. 2921.03(C) provides for civil liability against a “person who violates” the intimidation statute, but it…”
State v. Climaco, Climaco, Seminatore, Lefkowitz & Garofoli Co., L.P.A., 709 N.E.2d 1192 (Ohio 1999). · cites it 9× “The February 1, 1996 indictment alleged that appellant knowingly made false statements in violation of R.C. 2921.13 when it filed its June and October 1993 “Employer of Legislative Agent Updated Registration Statements.”
In Re Slusser, 748 N.E.2d 105 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 12× “The defendant was nonetheless charged with falsification, in violation of R.C. 2921.13, and was ultimately convicted of that charge.”
Rick Slorp v. Lerner, Sampson & Rothfuss, 587 F. App'x 249 (6th Cir. 2014). · cites it 4× “03; falsification in violation of Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13; and civil conspiracy to commit falsification.”
State v. Bailey, 644 N.E.2d 314 (Ohio 1994). · cites it 8× “R.C. 2921.13 provides in pertinent part: “(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies: “(3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in…”
State v. Mahone, 2014 Ohio 1251 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 3× “02(A)(3), and two counts of falsification in a theft offense, in violation of R.C. 2921.13(A)(9). The indictment arose out of an investigation by the Health Care Fraud Section of the Office of No.”
State v. Lazzaro, 1996 Ohio 397 (Ohio 1996). · cites it 11× “{¶ 11} At trial, Lazzaro was found guilty of violating R.C. 2921.13, Ohio’s falsification statute, which provides: “(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following…”
Show all 230 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(7) — 1 case
Hale v. Mercy Health Partners, 20 F. Supp. 3d 620 (S.D. Ohio 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A) — 20 cases
State v. Davis, 2017 Ohio 5613 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “31), falsification (R.C. 2921.13), and failure to disclose personal information (R.”
Rick Slorp v. Lerner, Sampson & Rothfuss, 587 F. App'x 249 (6th Cir. 2014). “03; falsification in violation of Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13; and civil conspiracy to commit falsification.”
State v. Cooper, 585 N.E.2d 868 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990).
State v. Bailey, 644 N.E.2d 314 (Ohio 1994). “R.C. 2921.13 provides in pertinent part: “(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies: “(3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in…”
State v. Parks, 468 N.E.2d 104 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(1) — 12 cases
State v. Poupard, 2018 Ohio 777 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Bell, 647 N.E.2d 193 (Ohio Ct. App. 1994).
Disciplinary Couns. v. Carr, 2022 Ohio 3633 (Ohio 2022).
State v. Howse, 2012 Ohio 6106 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Curry, 2018 Ohio 4771 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(1)(2)(3) — 1 case
State v. Pannell, 2017 Ohio 4286 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(10) — 3 cases
Disciplinary Couns. v. Thomas, 2016 Ohio 1582 (Ohio 2016).
State v. Baldwin, 2021 Ohio 4566 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Slagle, 2011 Ohio 1463 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(11) — 2 cases
Ohio State Bar Ass'n v. Jacob, 2017 Ohio 2733 (Ohio 2017).
State v. Jacob, 2015 Ohio 4760 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(13) — 2 cases
Ohio State Bar Ass'n v. Jacob, 2017 Ohio 2733 (Ohio 2017).
Cleveland Mun. Court Crim. Div. v. Edgewater Park Manor, L.L.C., 2025 Ohio 5139 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(14) — 2 cases
State v. Hottenstein, 2015 Ohio 4787 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Burns, 2012 Ohio 3100 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(2) — 15 cases
State v. Figueroa, 2020 Ohio 1328 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Tucker, 2018 Ohio 1869 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Gaiters, 2025 Ohio 30 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
State v. Eggeman, 2015 Ohio 5177 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Ware, 2019 Ohio 2595 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(2)(3) — 1 case
Kanode v. Columbus, 2025 Ohio 5533 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(3) — 76 cases
State v. Lazzaro, 667 N.E.2d 384 (Ohio 1996). “At trial, Lazzaro was found guilty of violating R.C. 2921.13, Ohio’s falsification statute, which provides: “(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies: a ‡…”
In Re Slusser, 748 N.E.2d 105 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000). “The defendant was nonetheless charged with falsification, in violation of R.C. 2921.13, and was ultimately convicted of that charge.”
State v. Sufronko, 664 N.E.2d 596 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “” Under the falsification statute, R.C. 2921.13 prohibits the making of a false statement under specific circumstances.”
State v. Lazzaro, 1996 Ohio 397 (Ohio 1996). “{¶ 11} At trial, Lazzaro was found guilty of violating R.C. 2921.13, Ohio’s falsification statute, which provides: “(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following…”
State v. Bailey, 644 N.E.2d 314 (Ohio 1994). “R.C. 2921.13 provides in pertinent part: “(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies: “(3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(4) — 12 cases
State v. Sufronko, 664 N.E.2d 596 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “” Under the falsification statute, R.C. 2921.13 prohibits the making of a false statement under specific circumstances.”
State v. McKinney, 2019 Ohio 1118 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Semenchuk, 701 N.E.2d 19 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997).
State v. Campbell, 620 N.E.2d 150 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993).
State v. King, 658 N.E.2d 1138 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(5) — 10 cases
State v. Chandler, 2016 Ohio 1017 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Willan, 2011 Ohio 6603 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Hurd, 734 N.E.2d 365 (Ohio 2000).
State v. Potts, 2020 Ohio 989 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Plata, 2014 Ohio 449 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(6) — 3 cases
Toledo Bar Ass'n v. Neller, 809 N.E.2d 1152 (Ohio 2004).
State Ex Rel. Murray v. Scioto Cnty. Bd. of Elections, 2010 Ohio 5846 (Ohio 2010).
Vill. of Maineville v. Hamilton Twp., 902 F. Supp. 2d 1072 (S.D. Ohio 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(7) — 12 cases
State v. Climaco, Climaco, Seminatore, Lefkowitz & Garofoli Co., L.P.A., 709 N.E.2d 1192 (Ohio 1999). “The February 1, 1996 indictment alleged that appellant knowingly made false statements in violation of R.C. 2921.13 when it filed its June and October 1993 “Employer of Legislative Agent Updated Registration Statements.”
State v. Gwinn, 2011 Ohio 5457 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Cook, 2010 Ohio 6305 (Ohio 2010).
State v. Climaco, Climaco, Seminatore, Lefkowitz & Garofoli Co., L.P.A., 1999 Ohio 408 (Ohio 1999).
State v. Burge, 2017 Ohio 5836 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(8) — 7 cases
Dean v. Consol. Equities Realty 3, L.L.C., 914 N.E.2d 1109 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009).
Crowley v. Ctr., 931 F. Supp. 2d 824 (N.D. Ohio 2013).
Cincinnati Bar Ass'n v. Farrell, 895 N.E.2d 800 (Ohio 2008).
State v. Parks, 468 N.E.2d 104 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983).
State v. Springer, 735 N.E.2d 914 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(A)(9) — 11 cases
State v. Mahone, 2014 Ohio 1251 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). “02(A)(3), and two counts of falsification in a theft offense, in violation of R.C. 2921.13(A)(9). The indictment arose out of an investigation by the Health Care Fraud Section of the Office of No.”
State v. Kane, 2017 Ohio 7838 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Caballero, 2016 Ohio 5496 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. McGrath, 2025 Ohio 2600 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
State v. Farkosh, 2015 Ohio 3588 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(B) — 1 case
State v. Figueroa, 2020 Ohio 1328 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(C) — 1 case
State v. Cook, 464 N.E.2d 577 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(E)(1) — 1 case
In Re Slusser, 748 N.E.2d 105 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000). “The defendant was nonetheless charged with falsification, in violation of R.C. 2921.13, and was ultimately convicted of that charge.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(F) — 2 cases
State v. Davis, 2016 Ohio 1521 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Davis, 2023 Ohio 910 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(F)(1) — 1 case
Disciplinary Couns. v. Carr, 2022 Ohio 3633 (Ohio 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13(G) — 7 cases
Buddenberg v. Weisdack (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3832 (Ohio 2020). “And we are not persuaded by petitioners’ argument that the “commission of the offense” necessarily means that a formal declaration of criminal guilt has occurred. {¶ 19} R.C. 2921.03(C) provides for civil liability against a “person who violates” the intimidation statute, but it…”
Morrow v. Reminger & Reminger Co., 915 N.E.2d 696 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). “11; falsifica *48 tion, in violation of R.C. 2921.13; intentional infliction of emotional distress; tortious interference with contract business relations; malicious prosecution; and abuse of process.”
Rick Slorp v. Lerner, Sampson & Rothfuss, 587 F. App'x 249 (6th Cir. 2014). “03; falsification in violation of Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.13; and civil conspiracy to commit falsification.”
Hershey v. Edelman, 932 N.E.2d 386 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010). “{¶ 27} The trial court found defendant’s counterclaim for falsification, filed pursuant to R.C. 2921.13, to be improper because R.C.”
Burgess v. Fischer, 766 F. Supp. 2d 845 (S.D. Ohio 2010).
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