Tampering with Evidence, Obstruction, Falsification and Bribery

Title 29, Chapter 2921 of the Ohio Revised Code outlines Ohio’s “Offenses Against Justice.”  This includes tampering with evidence, obstructing official businesses, falsification, resisting arrest, and bribery.

Four “Offenses Against Justice”

Section 2921.12: Tampering with Evidence

Tampering with evidence makes it a crime to alter, conceal, or destroy any thing with the purpose to hinder its value in an official proceeding or investigation. This is a 3rd degree felony in Ohio.

Prosecutors often charge tampering with evidence in connection with another charge in order to gain leverage in resolving the case by plea bargain.

Section 2921.31: Obstructing Official Business

Obstruction makes it an Ohio crime to purposely prevent, delay or obstruct a law enforcement officer from performing his duties. This charge is sometimes used together with falsification when a person provides false information to a police officer during a criminal or other investigation.

Section 2921.13: Falsification

Falsification makes it a crime in Ohio to knowingly make a false statement under specified circumstances, most commonly to mislead a law enforcement officer. Depending on the circumstances, falsification can be classified from as low as a first degree misdemeanor to as high as a third degree felony.

Section 2921.33: Resisting Arrest

Resisting arrest makes it an Ohio crime to recklessly or by force interfere with a lawful arrest. Depending on the circumstances, this offense can be classified from a first degree misdemeanor to a fourth degree felony.

If you are accused of tampering, obstruction, falsification, or resisting, contact one of our Columbus criminal defense attorneys at James D. Owen, LLC. We offer free consultations.