Section 1716.99. Penalty

(A) Whoever violates any provision of sections 1716.02 to 1716.17 of the Revised Code, other than division (A)(1) of section 1716.14 of the Revised Code, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Each occurrence of a solicitation of a contribution from any person in violation of any provision of sections 1716.02 to 1716.17 of the Revised Code, other than division (A)(1) of section 1716.14 of the Revised Code, is considered a separate offense.

(B)

(1) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of section 1716.14 of the Revised Code is guilty of solicitation fraud and shall be punished as provided in divisions (B)(2) to (4) of this section.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, division (B)(3) of this section applies to solicitation fraud, and solicitation fraud is one of the following:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2)(b) to (d) of this section, a misdemeanor of the first degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a theft offense or a violation of division (A)(1) of section 1716.14 of the Revised Code, a felony of the fifth degree.

(b) If the value of the contribution or contributions made in the violation is one thousand dollars or more but less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, a felony of the fifth degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a theft offense or a violation of division (A)(1) of section 1716.14 of the Revised Code, a felony of the fourth degree.

(c) If the value of the contribution or contributions made in the violation is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more but less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars, a felony of the fourth degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a theft offense or a violation of division (A)(1) of section 1716.14 of the Revised Code, a felony of the third degree.

(d) If the value of the contribution or contributions made in the violation is one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, a felony of the third degree.

(3) When an offender commits a series of offenses in violation of division (A)(1) of section 1716.14 of the Revised Code as part of a common scheme or plan to defraud multiple victims, all of the offenses may be tried as a single offense. If the offenses are tried as a single offense, the value of the contributions for purposes of determining the value as required by division (B)(2) of this section is the aggregate value of all contributions involved in all offenses in the common scheme or plan to defraud multiple victims. In prosecuting a single offense under this division, it is not necessary to separately allege and prove each offense in the series. Rather, it is sufficient to allege and prove that the offender, within a given span of time, committed one or more offenses as part of a common scheme or plan to defraud multiple victims as described in this division.

(4) If the victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult, division (B)(4) of this section and section 2913.61 of the Revised Code apply to solicitation fraud, and solicitation fraud is one of the following:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(4)(b) to (d) of this section, a felony of the fifth degree;

(b) If the value of the contributions made in the violation is one thousand dollars or more and is less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, a felony of the fourth degree;

(c) If the value of the contributions made in the violation is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more and is less than thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, a felony of the third degree;

(d) If the value of the contributions made in the violation is thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars or more, a felony of the second degree.

(C) Any person who is found guilty of any act or omission prohibited under this chapter shall forfeit the bond described in section 1716.05 or 1716.07 of the Revised Code to the state treasury to the credit of the charitable law fund established under section 109.32 of the Revised Code and shall be prohibited from registering with the attorney general or from serving as a fund-raising counsel or professional solicitor in this state for a period of five years after conviction.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.29, HB 86, §1, eff. 9/30/2011.

Effective Date: 11-22-1999