Criminal Trespass in Columbus, Ohio
From the founding of our country, land and property have been important assets to the American people. To protect our land, we have first-line defenses like no trespassing and posted signs and each state usually has laws against such trespassing. In Ohio, trespassing is a criminal offense punishable as a misdemeanor. Hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Franklin County for your property crime charge may benefit your case by providing a comprehensive defense to your alleged criminal trespass and possibly getting your case reduced or dismissed.
Columbus Criminal Trespass Defense Attorney
Trespassing may not seem like a big deal, but in Ohio it is a serious criminal offense that comes with serious penalties if you are convicted. Contact the knowledgeable and experienced Franklin County property crime defense attorneys at Joslyn Law Firm in Franklin County if you have been charged with criminal trespassing in Columbus or the surrounding areas, including Dublin, Delaware, Grove City, Westerville, Lancaster, Springfield, Reynoldsburg.
We will fight to protect your rights while working to have key evidence for the prosecution dismissed and their case weaknesses exposed. Your first consultation with Joslyn Law Firm is free, so call (614) 444-1900 today to schedule yours.
Definition of Criminal Trespass in Ohio
What constitutes criminal trespass in the state of Ohio is defined in O.R.C. § 2911.21. According to this law any person committing any of the following actions without the privilege to do so can be charged with criminal trespass:
- Knowingly enter in and/or remain on another person’s property, land, or premises
- Knowingly enter in and/or remain on another person’s property, land, or premises where access is restricted by specific factors like hours or persons
- Refusing or failing to leave land or premises after being given notice to leave by appropriate signs and fencing restricting access
- Refusing or failing to leave land or premises after being given verbal notification to do so
Land or premises includes any land, building, structure, or place belonging to, controlled by, or in custody of another person or entity, and any separate enclosure, room, or portion thereof. It is not a defense to this criminal trespass charge that the land or premises involved was owned, controlled, or in custody of a public agency, nor is it a defense that the alleged offender was authorized to enter and/or remain on the land when that authorization was obtained through deception.
An experienced property crime defense attorney serving Franklin County will be able to construct a valid, comprehensive defense against your Columbus criminal trespass charges while fighting to protect your rights and exposing weaknesses in the prosecution’s case against you.
Consequences for Franklin County Criminal Trespass
A conviction of criminal trespass in Ohio is generally punishable as a fourth-degree misdemeanor. A fourth-degree misdemeanor comes with the statutory maximum punishments of 30 days in prison and a $250 fine. If the act of criminal trespass is committed with a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, any fines imposed for the criminal trespass violation will be doubled. An off-highway motorcycle is a motorcycle designed to operate primarily on land instead of streets or highways, such as a dirt bike, and an all-purpose vehicle includes those vehicles commonly known as four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles.
Upon conviction of criminal trespass, if you have two or more previous criminal trespass violations that involved a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, the registration and/or license plate of that vehicle may be impounded for not less than 60 days. An experienced Franklin County property crime defense lawyer will help you fight your criminal trespass charge, and work to help you keep your vehicle.
Contact an Experienced Columbus, OH Defense Lawyer for a Trespass Charge
If you have been charged with criminal trespass with or without a special terrain vehicle in Franklin County, Pickaway County, Madison County, Delaware County, Licking County, or Fairfield County, contact the experienced property crime defense lawyers of Joslyn Law Firm in Columbus.
