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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03 (2026)

Complicity

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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.
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Haller, 2012-Ohio-5233. · 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. · 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, 93 Ohio St. 3d 240 (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, 164 N.E.3d 316. · cites it 8× “R.C. 2923.03 is Ohio’s complicity statute.”
State v. Sheldon, 2019-Ohio-4123. · 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. · 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, 920 N.E.2d 104. · 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. · 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.
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. 1st Dist. 1993).
State v. Robb, 723 N.E.2d 1019 (Ohio 2000).
State v. Taylor, 2022-Ohio-2877, 194 N.E.3d 867.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(1): 55 cases
State v. Sheldon, 2019-Ohio-4123. “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. ““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, 164 N.E.3d 316. “R.C. 2923.03 is Ohio’s complicity statute.”
State v. McDonald-Glasco, 2018-Ohio-1918.
State v. Urbin, 772 N.E.2d 1239 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 2002).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(2): 474 cases
State v. Haller, 2012-Ohio-5233. “{¶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, 93 Ohio St. 3d 240 (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. “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 Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(2)(C)(1): 1 case
State v. Smith, 2024-Ohio-3066.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(2)(F): 6 cases
State v. Edwards, 2018-Ohio-1739, 110 N.E.3d 1042.
State v. Gilmore, 2012-Ohio-5989.
State v. Stewart, 2013-Ohio-753.
State v. Armstrong, 2011-Ohio-661.
State v. Benson, 2021-Ohio-2010.
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, 164 N.E.3d 316. “R.C. 2923.03 is Ohio’s complicity statute.”
State v. Hoop, 731 N.E.2d 1177 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1999).
State v. Johnson, 93 Ohio St. 3d 240 (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, 159 N.E.3d 344.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(A)(4): 9 cases
State v. White, 2016-Ohio-1405.
State v. Howard, 2011-Ohio-3524.
State v. Demastry, 799 N.E.2d 229 (Ohio Ct. App. 5th Dist. 2003).
State v. Erkins, 2012-Ohio-5372.
Dunkle v. Dep't of Rehab. & Corr., 2017-Ohio-551, 71 N.E.3d 1098.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(AX2): 1 case
State v. Mallard, 3 Ohio App. Unrep. 193 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 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. 9th Dist. 2002).
State v. Singleton, 2013-Ohio-1440.
State v. Grevious, 2019-Ohio-1932.
State v. Smith, 2012-Ohio-794.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(B)(4): 1 case
State v. Lee, 2020-Ohio-3580.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(C): 12 cases
State v. Singleton, 2013-Ohio-1440.
State v. Gardner, 2023-Ohio-307.
State v. Adrian, 859 N.E.2d 1007 (Ohio Ct. App. 2d Dist. 2006).
In re B.J., 2014-Ohio-5701.
State v. Attia, 2021-Ohio-2890.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(D): 111 cases
State v. Perez, 2009-Ohio-6179, 920 N.E.2d 104. “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. “{¶ 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. “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 Rev. Code § 2923.03(D)(1): 1 case
State v. Grooms, 2016-Ohio-38.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(E): 10 cases
State v. Harris, 2017-Ohio-2751, 90 N.E.3d 342.
State v. Jones, 2016-Ohio-951.
State v. Jackson, 2017-Ohio-278.
State v. Wilborn, 2024-Ohio-5003, 256 N.E.3d 287.
State v. Pellegrini, 2013-Ohio-141.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(F): 330 cases
State v. Neff, 2021-Ohio-3766. ““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, 70 N.E.3d 508.
State v. Herring, 762 N.E.2d 940 (Ohio 2002).
State v. Smith (Slip Opinion), 2022-Ohio-274, 194 N.E.3d 297.
State v. Hand, 840 N.E.2d 151 (Ohio 2006).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(a)(1): 1 case
State v. Gamble, 2022-Ohio-2964.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.03(a)(2)(f): 1 case
State v. Jones, 2019-Ohio-3602.
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