Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2981
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2981.07 (2026)

Interference with or diminishing forfeitable property

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Effective:
September 30, 2011
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 86 - 129th General Assembly
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(A) No person shall destroy, damage, remove, or transfer property that is subject to forfeiture or otherwise take any action in regard to property that is subject to forfeiture with purpose to do any of the following:

(1) Prevent or impair the state's or political subdivision's lawful authority to take the property into its custody or control under this chapter or to continue holding the property under its lawful custody or control;

(2) Impair or defeat the court's continuing jurisdiction over the person and property;

(3) Devalue property that the person knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is subject to forfeiture proceedings under this chapter.

(B)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of interference with or diminishing forfeitable property.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(3), (4), and (5) of this section, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(3) If the value of the property is one thousand dollars or more but less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a felony of the fifth degree.

(4) If the value of the property is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more but less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a felony of the fourth degree.

(5) If the value of the property is one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, interference with or diminishing forfeitable property is a felony of the third degree.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2013–2023 · leading case: State ex rel. West v. McDonnell, 2014-Ohio-1562, 9 N.E.3d 1025.
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State ex rel. West v. McDonnell, 2014-Ohio-1562, 9 N.E.3d 1025. “She further found that Kulon was a bona fide purchaser of the property, but that the attempted sale of the property violated R.C. 2981.07 and was void. She therefore ordered the transfer of the property to Kulon and ordered that the proceeds of the sale be forfeited to the…”
State v. Young, 2015-Ohio-398. “11; and, later, complicity to commit interference with forfeitable property, under R.C. 2981.07. In a motion dated October 13, 2011, he moved the court to suppress evidence and to suppress his arrest.”
State ex rel. West v. McDonnell, 2013-Ohio-1044. “The judge specified that 2341 Scranton Road, Cleveland, Ohio sufficiently described the forfeited parcels, 004-10-005 and 004-10-006; that Donnalee West had no interest of record in the subject property and struck her petition as untimely; and that although the brothers’…”
State ex rel. West v. McDonnell, 2013-Ohio-1043. “The judge specified that 2341 Scranton Road, Cleveland, Ohio sufficiently described the forfeited parcels, 004-10-005 and 004-10-006; that Donnalee West had no interest of record in the subject property and struck her petition as untimely; and that although the brothers’…”
State v. Bradley, 2015-Ohio-395. “allegedly attempting to transfer title to the Hummer to Young, interference with forfeitable property, under R.C. 2981.07. {¶ 6} In a motion dated October 13, 2011, Young moved the court to suppress evidence and to suppress his arrest.”
State v. Allen, 2023-Ohio-4032, 227 N.E.3d 1287. · cites it 2× “In issuing this order, the court shall notify the person of the prohibitions against interfering with or diminishing property in section 2981.07 of the Revised Code and may make any order necessary to ensure that the value of the property is maintained.”
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