2907.03. Sexual battery

(A)    No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another, not the spouse of the offender, when any of the following apply

(1)    The offender knowingly coerces the other person to submit by any means that would prevent resistance by a person of ordinary resolution

(2)    The offender knows that the other person's ability to appraise the nature of or control the other person's own conduct is substantially impaired

(3)    The offender knows that the other person submits because the other person is unaware that the act is being committed

(4)    The offender knows that the other person submits because the other person mistakenly identifies the offender as the other person's spouse

(5)    The offender is the other person's natural or adoptive parent, or a stepparent, or guardian, custodian, or person in loco parentis of the other person

(6)    The other person is in custody of law or a patient in a hospital or other institution, and the offender has supervisory or disciplinary authority over the other person

(7)    The offender is a teacher, administrator, coach, or other person in authority employed by or serving in a school for which the state board of education prescribes minimum standards pursuant to division (D) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code, the other person is enrolled in or attends that school, and the offender is not enrolled in and does not attend that school

(8)    The other person is a minor, the offender is a teacher, administrator, coach, or other person in authority employed by or serving in an institution of higher education, and the other person is enrolled in or attends that institution

(9)    The other person is a minor, and the offender is the other person's athletic or other type of coach, is the other person's instructor, is the leader of a scouting troop of which the other person is a member, or is a person with temporary or occasional disciplinary control over the other person

(10)    The offender is a mental health professional, the other person is a mental health client or patient of the offender, and the offender induces the other person to submit by falsely representing to the other person that the sexual conduct is necessary for mental health treatment purposes

(11)    The other person is confined in a detention facility, and the offender is an employee of that detention facility

(12)    The other person is a minor, the offender is a cleric, and the other person is a member of, or attends, the church or congregation served by the cleric

(B)    Whoever violates this section is guilty of sexual battery. Except as otherwise provided in this division, sexual battery is a felony of the third degree. If the other person is less than thirteen years of age, sexual battery is a felony of the second degree, and the court shall impose upon the offender a mandatory prison term equal to one of the prison terms prescribed in section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the second degree

(C)    As used in this section:

(1)    "Cleric" has the same meaning as in section 2317.02 of the Revised Code

(2)    "Detention facility" has the same meaning as in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code

(3)    "Institution of higher education" means a state institution of higher education defined in section 3345.011 [3345.01.1] of the Revised Code, a private nonprofit college or university located in this state that possesses a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio board of regents pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code, or a school certified under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code

HISTORY: 134 v H 511 (Eff 1-1-74); 145 v H 454 (Eff 7-19-94); 146 v S 2 (Eff 7-1-96); 147 v S 6 (Eff 6-20-97); 147 v H 32 (Eff 3-10-98); 149 v S 9 (Eff 5-14-2002); 149 v H 510. Eff 3-31-2003; 151 v S 17, § 1, eff. 8-3-06; 151 v H 95, § 1, eff. 8-3-06.

1974 Committee Comment to H 511

This section forbids sexual conduct with a person other than the offender's spouse in a variety of situations where the offender takes unconscionable advantage of the victim

It includes sexual conduct by coercion, which is somewhat broader than sexual conduct by force - one of the key elements of rape. It also includes sexual conduct when the victim's judgment is obviously impaired, or when the offender knows the victim submits because he or she is unaware of the act, or because he or she mistakenly identifies the offender as his or her spouse. Incestuous conduct is also included, though defined in broader terms that formerly, so as to include not only sexual conduct by a parent with his child, but also sexual conduct by a step-parent with his step-child, a guardian with his child, but also sexual conduct by a step-parent with his step-child, a guardian with his ward, or a custodian or person in loco parentis with his charge. Finally, the section proscribes sexual conduct with a prisoner, or with a patient in a hospital or institution, by an offender who has supervisory or disciplinary authority over the victim.

Some forms of sexual battery are lesser included offenses to rape

Sexual battery is a felony of the third degree.