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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03 (2026)

Complicity

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
September 17, 1986
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 338 - 116th General Assembly
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(A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following:

(1) Solicit or procure another to commit the offense;

(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense;

(3) Conspire with another to commit the offense in violation of section 2923.01 of the Revised Code;

(4) Cause an innocent or irresponsible person to commit the offense.

(B) It is no defense to a charge under this section that no person with whom the accused was in complicity has been convicted as a principal offender.

(C) No person shall be convicted of complicity under this section unless an offense is actually committed, but a person may be convicted of complicity in an attempt to commit an offense in violation of section 2923.02 of the Revised Code.

(D) If an alleged accomplice of the defendant testifies against the defendant in a case in which the defendant is charged with complicity in the commission of or an attempt to commit an offense, an attempt to commit an offense, or an offense, the court, when it charges the jury, shall state substantially the following:

"The testimony of an accomplice does not become inadmissible because of his complicity, moral turpitude, or self-interest, but the admitted or claimed complicity of a witness may affect his credibility and make his testimony subject to grave suspicion, and require that it be weighed with great caution.

It is for you, as jurors, in the light of all the facts presented to you from the witness stand, to evaluate such testimony and to determine its quality and worth or its lack of quality and worth."

(E) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that, prior to the commission of or attempt to commit the offense, the actor terminated his complicity, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of his criminal purpose.

(F) Whoever violates this section is guilty of complicity in the commission of an offense, and shall be prosecuted and punished as if he were a principal offender. A charge of complicity may be stated in terms of this section, or in terms of the principal offense.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1,057 cases (280 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: State v. Haller, 2012 Ohio 5233 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
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State v. Haller, 2012 Ohio 5233 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 20× “{¶11} R.C. 2923.03, Ohio’s complicity statute, provides, in relevant part: (A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: -9- Case No.”
State v. Johnson, 754 N.E.2d 796 (Ohio 2001). · cites it 11× “R.C. 2923.03 provides: “(A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: $ * “(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense.”
State v. Neff, 2021 Ohio 3766 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 53× ““The effect of [R.C. 2923.03(D] is to leave the assessment of an accomplice’s credibility to a jury after it has been properly instructed concerning the treatment of that testimony.”
State v. Johnson, 2001 Ohio 1336 (Ohio 2001). · cites it 12× “R.C. 2923.03 provides: “(A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: “* * * “(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense.”
State v. McFarland (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3343 (Ohio 2020). · cites it 8× “R.C. 2923.03 is Ohio’s complicity statute.”
State v. Sheldon, 2019 Ohio 4123 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 18× “R.C. 2923.03 sets forth the offense of complicity and provides, in its relevant part, as follows: (A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: (1) Solicit or procure another to commit the offense.”
State v. Morris, 2021 Ohio 2646 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 8× “145; one count of Complicity to Aggravated Burglary, a first-degree felony, in violation of R.C. §2923.03(A)(2) and §2911.11(A)(2), and containing a firearm specification under R.”
State v. Perez, 2009 Ohio 6179 (Ohio 2009). · cites it 6× “Perez concedes that Debra was not charged with complicity in his crimes, but he argues that there was sufficient evidence to charge her with aiding and abetting Perez, because she obtained and disposed of guns on his behalf and, according to Perez, knew that he was committing…”
Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez, 549 U.S. 183 (2007). · cites it 4× “2d 1077, 1080-1082 (1987); Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2923.03; State v. Johnson, 93 Ohio St.”
State v. Johnson, 2016 Ohio 7266 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 14× “{¶ 120} In his eighth assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by instructing the jury pursuant to R.C. 2923.03(D). Appellant contends that because Adams did not testify against him, the following jury instruction was improper: THE COURT: You have heard the…”
State v. Hanning, 728 N.E.2d 1059 (Ohio 2000). · cites it 9× “Today we are asked to determine whether the complicity statute, R.C. 2923.03, applies to juvenile bindover criteria set forth in R.”
State v. Montgomery, 575 N.E.2d 167 (Ohio 1991). · cites it 7× “, Glover Heard, in violation of former R.C. 2923.03(D), which provided: *417 “No person shall be convicted of complicity under this section solely upon the testimony of an accomplice, unsupported by other evidence.”
Show all 1,057 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A) — 135 cases
State v. Noble, 2014 Ohio 5485 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez, 549 U.S. 183 (2007). “2d 1077, 1080-1082 (1987); Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2923.03; State v. Johnson, 93 Ohio St.”
State v. Daniels, 636 N.E.2d 336 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993).
State v. Robb, 88 Ohio St. 3d 59 (Ohio 2000).
State v. Taylor, 2022 Ohio 2877 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(1) — 55 cases
State v. Sheldon, 2019 Ohio 4123 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “R.C. 2923.03 sets forth the offense of complicity and provides, in its relevant part, as follows: (A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: (1) Solicit or procure another to commit the offense.”
State v. Neff, 2021 Ohio 3766 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). ““The effect of [R.C. 2923.03(D] is to leave the assessment of an accomplice’s credibility to a jury after it has been properly instructed concerning the treatment of that testimony.”
State v. McFarland (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3343 (Ohio 2020). “R.C. 2923.03 is Ohio’s complicity statute.”
State v. McDonald-Glasco, 2018 Ohio 1918 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Urbin, 772 N.E.2d 1239 (Ohio Ct. App. 2002).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(2) — 474 cases
State v. Haller, 2012 Ohio 5233 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “{¶11} R.C. 2923.03, Ohio’s complicity statute, provides, in relevant part: (A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: -9- Case No.”
State v. Johnson, 754 N.E.2d 796 (Ohio 2001). “R.C. 2923.03 provides: “(A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: $ * “(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense.”
State v. Johnson, 2001 Ohio 1336 (Ohio 2001). “R.C. 2923.03 provides: “(A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: “* * * “(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense.”
State v. Morris, 2021 Ohio 2646 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “145; one count of Complicity to Aggravated Burglary, a first-degree felony, in violation of R.C. §2923.03(A)(2) and §2911.11(A)(2), and containing a firearm specification under R.”
State v. Young, 2020 Ohio 462 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(2)(C)(1) — 1 case
State v. Smith, 2024 Ohio 3066 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(2)(F) — 6 cases
State v. Edwards, 2018 Ohio 1739 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Gilmore, 2012 Ohio 5989 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Stewart, 2013 Ohio 753 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Armstrong, 2011 Ohio 661 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Benson, 2021 Ohio 2010 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(3) — 15 cases
State v. Johnson, 754 N.E.2d 796 (Ohio 2001). “R.C. 2923.03 provides: “(A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: $ * “(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense.”
State v. McFarland (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 3343 (Ohio 2020). “R.C. 2923.03 is Ohio’s complicity statute.”
State v. Hoop, 731 N.E.2d 1177 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999).
State v. Johnson, 2001 Ohio 1336 (Ohio 2001). “R.C. 2923.03 provides: “(A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: “* * * “(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense.”
In re H.S., 2020 Ohio 4530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(4) — 9 cases
State v. White, 2016 Ohio 1405 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Howard, 2011 Ohio 3524 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Demastry, 799 N.E.2d 229 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003).
State v. Erkins, 2012 Ohio 5372 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
Dunkle v. Dep't of Rehab. & Corr., 2017 Ohio 551 (Ohio 2017).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(AX2) — 1 case
State v. Mallard, 3 Ohio App. Unrep. 193 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(B) — 21 cases
State v. Williams, 528 N.E.2d 910 (Ohio 1988).
State v. Urbin, 772 N.E.2d 1239 (Ohio Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Singleton, 2013 Ohio 1440 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Grevious, 2019 Ohio 1932 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Smith, 2012 Ohio 794 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(B)(4) — 1 case
State v. Lee, 2020 Ohio 3580 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(C) — 12 cases
State v. Singleton, 2013 Ohio 1440 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Gardner, 2023 Ohio 307 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Adrian, 859 N.E.2d 1007 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).
In re B.J., 2014 Ohio 5701 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Attia, 2021 Ohio 2890 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(D) — 111 cases
State v. Perez, 2009 Ohio 6179 (Ohio 2009). “Perez concedes that Debra was not charged with complicity in his crimes, but he argues that there was sufficient evidence to charge her with aiding and abetting Perez, because she obtained and disposed of guns on his behalf and, according to Perez, knew that he was committing…”
State v. Johnson, 2016 Ohio 7266 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “{¶ 120} In his eighth assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by instructing the jury pursuant to R.C. 2923.03(D). Appellant contends that because Adams did not testify against him, the following jury instruction was improper: THE COURT: You have heard the…”
State v. Montgomery, 575 N.E.2d 167 (Ohio 1991). “, Glover Heard, in violation of former R.C. 2923.03(D), which provided: *417 “No person shall be convicted of complicity under this section solely upon the testimony of an accomplice, unsupported by other evidence.”
State v. Sheldon, 2019 Ohio 4123 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “R.C. 2923.03 sets forth the offense of complicity and provides, in its relevant part, as follows: (A) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following: (1) Solicit or procure another to commit the offense.”
State v. Harris, 2014 Ohio 2501 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(D)(1) — 1 case
State v. Grooms, 2016 Ohio 38 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(E) — 10 cases
State v. Harris, 2017 Ohio 2751 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Jones, 2016 Ohio 951 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Jackson, 2017 Ohio 278 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Wilborn, 2024 Ohio 5003 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Pellegrini, 2013 Ohio 141 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(F) — 330 cases
State v. Neff, 2021 Ohio 3766 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). ““The effect of [R.C. 2923.03(D] is to leave the assessment of an accomplice’s credibility to a jury after it has been properly instructed concerning the treatment of that testimony.”
State v. McKelton (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5735 (Ohio 2016).
State v. Herring, 762 N.E.2d 940 (Ohio 2002).
State v. Smith (Slip Opinion), 2022 Ohio 274 (Ohio 2022).
State v. Hand, 107 Ohio St. 3d 378 (Ohio 2006).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(a)(1) — 1 case
State v. Gamble, 2022 Ohio 2964 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(a)(2)(f) — 1 case
State v. Jones, 2019 Ohio 3602 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
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