Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2921
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15 (2026)

Making false allegation of peace officer misconduct

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Effective:
March 22, 2001
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 317 - 123rd General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) As used in this section, "peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall knowingly file a complaint against a peace officer that alleges that the peace officer engaged in misconduct in the performance of the officer's duties if the person knows that the allegation is false.

(C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of making a false allegation of peace officer misconduct, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2014–2025 · leading case: Olthaus v. Niesen, 2023-Ohio-4710, 232 N.E.3d 932.
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Olthaus v. Niesen, 2023-Ohio-4710, 232 N.E.3d 932. · cites it 5× “60 for harming him in a criminal act—namely, for making a false allegation against a peace officer in violation of R.C. 2921.15. {¶5} Broadly, the complaint contends that Defendants spread various false and defamatory statements about Officer Olthaus.”
State v. Figueroa, 2020-Ohio-1328, 153 N.E.3d 522. · cites it 4× “” {¶23} This is clearly a clerical error, as the statutory language recited in the complaint is found in R.C. 2921.15(B): “No person shall knowingly file a complaint against a peace officer that alleges that the peace officer engaged in misconduct in the performance of the…”
State v. Guess, 2014-Ohio-771. “{¶ 1} Bo Guess, defendant-appellant, appeals from a judgment of the Hocking County Court of Common Pleas, in which the court found him guilty, pursuant to a plea of guilty, of four counts of making false allegations against a peace officer, in violation of R.C. 2921.15, which…”
Peroli v. Huber, No. 1:19-cv-01755 (N.D. Ohio May 12, 2020). · cites it 19× “Peroli under Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15. (Id. at ¶ 58.) That 1 A copy of Ms.”
Joette Peroli v. Gregory Huber, No. 21-3202, 2021 WL 5411215 (6th Cir. Nov. 19, 2021). · cites it 4× “Huber reviewed the courthouse surveillance footage, Kiousis’s report, body camera footage, and Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15. Huber sent a letter to Kiousis authorizing a single charge against Ms.”
Peroli v. Huber, No. 1:19-cv-01755 (N.D. Ohio July 29, 2020). · cites it 3× “Huber’s memo to the MCSD ‘authorizing’ a charge under O.R.C. § 2921.15 was not legal advice. 20.”
State v. Smith, 2018-Ohio-4188. “Nunc Pro Tunc- Judgment Entry-Sentencing, filed Aug 25, 2016 at 6.”
State v. Calloway, 2024-Ohio-703. “2023 CA 00045 4 officer misconduct, a first-degree misdemeanor in violation of R.C. 2921.15(B). Calloway entered a not guilty plea to the charges and the no-contact order remained in place.”
State v. Owens, 2025-Ohio-2266. “03), and making a false allegation of peace officer misconduct (R.C. 2921.15), and sentencing him to an aggregate term of incarceration of forty-eight months.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15(B): 6 cases
Olthaus v. Niesen, 2023-Ohio-4710, 232 N.E.3d 932. “60 for harming him in a criminal act—namely, for making a false allegation against a peace officer in violation of R.C. 2921.15. {¶5} Broadly, the complaint contends that Defendants spread various false and defamatory statements about Officer Olthaus.”
State v. Figueroa, 2020-Ohio-1328, 153 N.E.3d 522. “” {¶23} This is clearly a clerical error, as the statutory language recited in the complaint is found in R.C. 2921.15(B): “No person shall knowingly file a complaint against a peace officer that alleges that the peace officer engaged in misconduct in the performance of the…”
Joette Peroli v. Gregory Huber, No. 21-3202, 2021 WL 5411215 (6th Cir. Nov. 19, 2021). “Huber reviewed the courthouse surveillance footage, Kiousis’s report, body camera footage, and Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15. Huber sent a letter to Kiousis authorizing a single charge against Ms.”
Peroli v. Huber, No. 1:19-cv-01755 (N.D. Ohio May 12, 2020). “Peroli under Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15. (Id. at ¶ 58.) That 1 A copy of Ms.”
Peroli v. Huber, No. 1:19-cv-01755 (N.D. Ohio July 29, 2020). “Huber’s memo to the MCSD ‘authorizing’ a charge under O.R.C. § 2921.15 was not legal advice. 20.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15(B)(3): 1 case
State v. Smith, 2018-Ohio-4188. “Nunc Pro Tunc- Judgment Entry-Sentencing, filed Aug 25, 2016 at 6.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15(b): 1 case
Peroli v. Huber, No. 1:19-cv-01755 (N.D. Ohio May 12, 2020). “Peroli under Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15. (Id. at ¶ 58.) That 1 A copy of Ms.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15(c): 1 case
Peroli v. Huber, No. 1:19-cv-01755 (N.D. Ohio May 12, 2020). “Peroli under Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.15. (Id. at ¶ 58.) That 1 A copy of Ms.”
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