Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2950
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99 (2026)

Penalty

✓ current as of May 2026
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(A)(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(b) of this section, whoever violates a prohibition in section 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:

(i) If the most serious sexually oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is aggravated murder or murder if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the first degree.

(ii) If the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a felony of the first, second, third, or fourth degree if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the same degree as the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition, or, if the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the same degree as that offense committed in the other jurisdiction would constitute if committed in this state.

(iii) If the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a felony of the fifth degree or a misdemeanor if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.

(b) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, or previously has been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing, a violation of a prohibition in section 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised Code, whoever violates a prohibition in section 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:

(i) If the most serious sexually oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is aggravated murder or murder if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the first degree.

(ii) If the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a felony of the first, second, or third degree if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the same degree as the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition, or, if the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the same degree as that offense committed in the other jurisdiction would constitute if committed in this state.

(iii) If the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a felony of the fourth or fifth degree if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

(iv) If the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a misdemeanor if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the offender is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.

(2)(a) In addition to any penalty or sanction imposed under division (A)(1) of this section or any other provision of law for a violation of a prohibition in section 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised Code, if the offender or delinquent child is subject to a community control sanction, is on parole, is subject to one or more post-release control sanctions, or is subject to any other type of supervised release at the time of the violation, the violation shall constitute a violation of the terms and conditions of the community control sanction, parole, post-release control sanction, or other type of supervised release.

(b) In addition to any penalty or sanction imposed under division (A)(1)(b)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section or any other provision of law for a violation of a prohibition in section 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised Code, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, or previously has been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing, a violation of a prohibition in section 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised Code when the most serious sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the requirement that was violated under the prohibition is a felony if committed by an adult or a comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction, the court imposing a sentence upon the offender shall impose a definite prison term of no less than three years. The definite prison term imposed under this section shall not be reduced to less than three years pursuant to any provision of Chapter 2967. or any other provision of the Revised Code.

(3) As used in division (A)(1) of this section, "comparable category of offense committed in another jurisdiction" means a sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense that was the basis of the registration, notice of intent to reside, change of address notification, or address verification requirement that was violated, that is a violation of an existing or former law of another state or the United States, an existing or former law applicable in a military court or in an Indian tribal court, or an existing or former law of any nation other than the United States, and that, if it had been committed in this state, would constitute or would have constituted aggravated murder or murder for purposes of division (A)(1)(a)(i) of this section, a felony of the first, second, third, or fourth degree for purposes of division (A)(1)(a)(ii) of this section, a felony of the fifth degree or a misdemeanor for purposes of division (A)(1)(a)(iii) of this section, aggravated murder or murder for purposes of division (A)(1)(b)(i) of this section, a felony of the first, second, or third degree for purposes of division (A)(1)(b)(ii) of this section, a felony of the fourth or fifth degree for purposes of division (A)(1)(b)(iii) of this section, or a misdemeanor for purposes of division (A)(1)(b)(iv) of this section.

(B) If a person violates a prohibition in section 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised Code that applies to the person as a result of the person being adjudicated a delinquent child and being classified a juvenile offender registrant or an out-of-state juvenile offender registrant, both of the following apply:

(1) If the violation occurs while the person is under eighteen years of age, the person is subject to proceedings under Chapter 2152. of the Revised Code based on the violation.

(2) If the violation occurs while the person is eighteen years of age or older, the person is subject to criminal prosecution based on the violation.

(C) Whoever violates division (C) of section 2950.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(D) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of section 2950.035 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(2) or (3) of this section, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2) If the offender once previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) of section 2950.035 of the Revised Code, the offender is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

(3) If the offender two or more times previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) of section 2950.035 of the Revised Code, the offender is guilty of a felony of the first degree.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated February 14, 2023 at 2:26 PM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 129 cases (22 in the last 5 years), 1998–2026 · leading case: State v. Howard, 2012 Ohio 5738 (Ohio 2012).
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State v. Howard, 2012 Ohio 5738 (Ohio 2012). · cites it 64× “05—Requirement to give notice of change of residence address—Penalty for failure to give notice—Former R.C. 2950.99 as it existed immediately before repeal of Megan’s Law by Adam Walsh Act governs penalty for offenders originally classified under Megan’s Law who violate notice…”
State v. Ashcraft, 2022 Ohio 4611 (Ohio 2022). · cites it 67× “At Ashcraft’s plea hearing, the court informed him that he was facing a prison term of no less than three years under R.C. 2950.99 in addition to any sanction or penalty imposed for the offense.”
State v. Buttery (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 2998 (Ohio 2020). · cites it 12× “Unlike the sentencing statutes in Apprendi and Alleyne, R.C. 2950.99 does not provide for sentence enhancements upon a trial court’s determination of certain facts.”
State v. Lloyd, 2012 Ohio 2015 (Ohio 2012). · cites it 18× “01 {¶ 13} In all prosecutions under Ohio’s sex-offender-registration laws, the state must prove that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually oriented offense that triggered a duty to register.”
State v. Howard, 2011 Ohio 5693 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 20× “Under the former R.C. 2950.99, the penalty for failure to notify was a felony of the fifth degree.”
State v. Beckwith, 2017 Ohio 4298 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 16× “Because of the prior conviction specification, his offense was elevated from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony, pursuant to R.C. 2950.99. The trial court sentenced him to 24 months, concurrent to the term imposed in CR-604159.”
State v. Williams, 2011 OH 3374 (Ohio 2011). · cites it 4× “R.C. 2950.99. {¶ 12} In a dissent in Ferguson, Justice Lanzinger wrote as follows: {¶ 13} "Although the majority continues to rely on State v.”
State v. Ashcraft, 2021 Ohio 3842 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 36× “05(F) was contrary to law under the language of R.C. 2950.99. Standard of Review {¶10} R.”
State v. Gingell, 2011 Ohio 1481 (Ohio 2011). · cites it 6× “Under former R.C. 2950.99, Gingell’s failure to properly register as a sexually oriented offender would have been a fifth-degree felony.”
State v. Barnes, 2014 Ohio 2721 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 19× “In his written pleas, it was noted that the two failure to register counts carried a mandatory three year prison sentence, pursuant to R.C. 2950.99(A)(2)(b), because he had a prior conviction for failing to register under R.”
State v. Risch, 2025 Ohio 2484 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 16× “The trial court imposed a mandatory three-year prison term pursuant to sentencing enhancement provisions in R.C. 2950.99 that elevate the penalty if the defendant had a prior conviction for certain enumerated failure to report crimes.”
State v. Freeman, 2011 Ohio 4357 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 9× “{¶15} Freeman was classified under Megan’s Law as a sexually oriented offender on December 12, 2000.”
Show all 129 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A) — 5 cases
State v. Buttery (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 2998 (Ohio 2020). “Unlike the sentencing statutes in Apprendi and Alleyne, R.C. 2950.99 does not provide for sentence enhancements upon a trial court’s determination of certain facts.”
State v. Alltop, 2011 Ohio 5541 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Jones, 2012 Ohio 1231 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Morris, 2014 Ohio 5578 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Hopson, 2018 Ohio 4552 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1) — 5 cases
State v. Lloyd, 2012 Ohio 2015 (Ohio 2012). “01 {¶ 13} In all prosecutions under Ohio’s sex-offender-registration laws, the state must prove that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually oriented offense that triggered a duty to register.”
Julie Hautzenroeder v. Michael DeWine, 887 F.3d 737 (6th Cir. 2018).
State v. Shazier, 2019 Ohio 4409 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
Young v. Swaney (S.D. Ohio 2024).
State v. Jackson, 2017 Ohio 917 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(a) — 14 cases
State v. Hubbard, 2020 Ohio 856 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Howard, 2011 Ohio 5693 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “Under the former R.C. 2950.99, the penalty for failure to notify was a felony of the fifth degree.”
State v. Gingell, 2011 Ohio 1481 (Ohio 2011). “Under former R.C. 2950.99, Gingell’s failure to properly register as a sexually oriented offender would have been a fifth-degree felony.”
State v. Ashcraft, 2022 Ohio 4611 (Ohio 2022). “At Ashcraft’s plea hearing, the court informed him that he was facing a prison term of no less than three years under R.C. 2950.99 in addition to any sanction or penalty imposed for the offense.”
State v. Beard, 2021 Ohio 2512 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(a)(I) — 1 case
State v. Brunning, 2013 Ohio 930 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(a)(i) — 12 cases
State v. Howard, 2011 Ohio 5693 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “Under the former R.C. 2950.99, the penalty for failure to notify was a felony of the fifth degree.”
State v. Johnson, 2011 Ohio 2069 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Alexander, 2011 Ohio 4015 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Alltop, 2011 Ohio 5541 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Kimbrough, 2012 Ohio 1773 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(a)(ii) — 14 cases
State v. Buttery (Slip Opinion), 2020 Ohio 2998 (Ohio 2020). “Unlike the sentencing statutes in Apprendi and Alleyne, R.C. 2950.99 does not provide for sentence enhancements upon a trial court’s determination of certain facts.”
State v. Lloyd, 2012 Ohio 2015 (Ohio 2012). “01 {¶ 13} In all prosecutions under Ohio’s sex-offender-registration laws, the state must prove that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually oriented offense that triggered a duty to register.”
State v. Alltop, 2011 Ohio 5541 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Palmer, 2012 Ohio 580 (Ohio 2012).
State v. Alexander, 2011 Ohio 4015 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(a)(iii) — 3 cases
State v. Conley, 2016 Ohio 5310 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Lloyd, 2012 Ohio 2015 (Ohio 2012). “01 {¶ 13} In all prosecutions under Ohio’s sex-offender-registration laws, the state must prove that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually oriented offense that triggered a duty to register.”
State v. Finfrock, 2026 Ohio 2240 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(b) — 5 cases
State v. Ashcraft, 2022 Ohio 4611 (Ohio 2022). “At Ashcraft’s plea hearing, the court informed him that he was facing a prison term of no less than three years under R.C. 2950.99 in addition to any sanction or penalty imposed for the offense.”
State v. Ashcraft, 2021 Ohio 3842 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “05(F) was contrary to law under the language of R.C. 2950.99. Standard of Review {¶10} R.”
State v. Caldwell, 2012 Ohio 1091 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Koch, 2016 Ohio 7926 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. McCoppin, 2016 Ohio 5440 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(b)(i) — 2 cases
State v. Ashcraft, 2022 Ohio 4611 (Ohio 2022). “At Ashcraft’s plea hearing, the court informed him that he was facing a prison term of no less than three years under R.C. 2950.99 in addition to any sanction or penalty imposed for the offense.”
State v. Howard, 2011 Ohio 5693 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “Under the former R.C. 2950.99, the penalty for failure to notify was a felony of the fifth degree.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(b)(ii) — 4 cases
State v. Ashcraft, 2022 Ohio 4611 (Ohio 2022). “At Ashcraft’s plea hearing, the court informed him that he was facing a prison term of no less than three years under R.C. 2950.99 in addition to any sanction or penalty imposed for the offense.”
State v. Ashcraft, 2021 Ohio 3842 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “05(F) was contrary to law under the language of R.C. 2950.99. Standard of Review {¶10} R.”
State v. Burden, 2022 Ohio 569 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
State v. Bocanegra, 2024 Ohio 5971 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(b)(iii) — 5 cases
State v. Beckwith, 2017 Ohio 4298 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “Because of the prior conviction specification, his offense was elevated from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony, pursuant to R.C. 2950.99. The trial court sentenced him to 24 months, concurrent to the term imposed in CR-604159.”
State v. Ramsey, 2022 Ohio 3389 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
State v. Kesler, 2014 Ohio 3376 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Bibb, 2020 Ohio 4670 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Chandler, 2016 Ohio 599 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(1)(iii) — 1 case
State v. Overton, 2021 Ohio 3193 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(2)(b) — 22 cases
State v. Ashcraft, 2022 Ohio 4611 (Ohio 2022). “At Ashcraft’s plea hearing, the court informed him that he was facing a prison term of no less than three years under R.C. 2950.99 in addition to any sanction or penalty imposed for the offense.”
State v. Barnes, 2014 Ohio 2721 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). “In his written pleas, it was noted that the two failure to register counts carried a mandatory three year prison sentence, pursuant to R.C. 2950.99(A)(2)(b), because he had a prior conviction for failing to register under R.”
State v. Ashcraft, 2021 Ohio 3842 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “05(F) was contrary to law under the language of R.C. 2950.99. Standard of Review {¶10} R.”
State v. Beckwith, 2017 Ohio 4298 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “Because of the prior conviction specification, his offense was elevated from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony, pursuant to R.C. 2950.99. The trial court sentenced him to 24 months, concurrent to the term imposed in CR-604159.”
State v. Pritchett, 2011 Ohio 5978 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(3) — 1 case
State v. Lloyd, 2012 Ohio 2015 (Ohio 2012). “01 {¶ 13} In all prosecutions under Ohio’s sex-offender-registration laws, the state must prove that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually oriented offense that triggered a duty to register.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(l)(a)(i) — 1 case
State v. Chessman, 935 N.E.2d 887 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(l)(a)(ii) — 3 cases
State v. Lloyd, 2012 Ohio 2015 (Ohio 2012). “01 {¶ 13} In all prosecutions under Ohio’s sex-offender-registration laws, the state must prove that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually oriented offense that triggered a duty to register.”
State v. Chessman, 935 N.E.2d 887 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
State v. Savors, 2012 Ohio 1297 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(A)(l)(a)(iii) — 2 cases
State v. Lloyd, 2012 Ohio 2015 (Ohio 2012). “01 {¶ 13} In all prosecutions under Ohio’s sex-offender-registration laws, the state must prove that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually oriented offense that triggered a duty to register.”
State v. Chessman, 935 N.E.2d 887 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.99(a)(1)(i) — 1 case
People v. Carmony, 2005 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 2601 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005).
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