“Brian Joslyn is an Award-Winning Criminal and DUI Defense attorney who, along with his team at The Joslyn Law Firm, have handled hundreds of criminal cases and helping their clients obtain the best results possible.”

Cincinnati Public Indecency Lawyers

If you were charged with the crime of public indecency under Ohio’s Revised Code § 2907.09 in Cincinnati, Ohio, you could face time in jail, fines, and having to register as a sex offender. To be certain your rights as a criminal defendant are protected, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Joslyn Law Firm in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Brian Joslyn has been nationally ranked, earning a “Top 10 Under 40 Attorney Award” from the National Academy of Defense Attorneys and recognition from Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star.” He was also named as one of Central Ohio’s “Top Lawyers” by Columbus CEO Magazine. Our firm has defended clients throughout the Cincinnati area in a total of more than 15,000 cases to date.

Joslyn Law Firm represents clients charged with sexually motivated crimes throughout Cincinnati and Hamilton County. If you were arrested in the enclaves of Cincinnati, including Norwood, Elmwood Place, and Saint Bernard, we will defend you against these charges.

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Cincinnati Public Indecency Lawyers

A public indecency conviction can damage your reputation. It can also cost you financially in terms of fines—and you might even face time behind bars. If you have been arrested for this offense, it is in your best interest to hire legal counsel immediately.

Joslyn Law Firm strongly believes in preserving the rights and dignity of the accused. Our team’s deep criminal defense experience will put your mind at ease—especially when you see the extent of Brian Joslyn’s familiarity with local courts and judges, prosecutors, probation officers, and court personnel.

The attorneys at Joslyn Law Firm fight cases after an arrest in the cities of Blue Ash, Cheviot, Deer Park, Forest Park, Harrison, Village of Indian Hill, Madeira, Montgomery, Mount Healthy, North College Hill, Norwood, Reading, Silverton, Springdale, St. Bernard, and Wyoming.

Brian Joslyn also represents clients in Ohio’s third-most populous county, Hamilton County, and the adjacent counties of Butler County to the north, Warren County to the northeast, and Clermont County to the east.

A sex offenses lawyer can benefit your case. Call Joslyn Law Firm today at (513) 399-6289 for a free consultation.

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Cincinnati Public Indecency Information Center

• Public Indecency Charges in Cincinnati
• Penalties For Public Indecency in Ohio
• Defenses Against Public Indecency in Hamilton County
• Additional Resources For Public Indecency in Ohio
• News About Public Indecency in Ohio
• Frequently Asked Questions About Public Indecency Charges in Hamilton County
• Cincinnati Public Indecency Defense Lawyers

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Public Indecency Charges in Cincinnati

Senate Bill 245, effective April 4, 2007, changed the degree of the offense of public indecency but did not change the elements of this offense. Under Ohio law, the prosecution in a public indecency case must prove the elements of the offense under Ohio’s Revised Code 2907.09 beyond all reasonable doubt.

This proof must include evidence that the defendant acted under one of the following circumstances:

• Their actions were likely viewable by others in their proximity
• People who would view the defendant’s actions were not members of the defendant’s household
• Behaved recklessly
• Acted in the presence of a minor, who is not the defendant’s spouse, and who lives with the defendant

The prosecution must also prove that the defendant committed one or more of the following acts:

• Exposed their private parts to either achieve personal sexual arousal or gratification or to entice the minor to engage in sexual activity
• Masturbated
• Engaged in some form of sexual conduct
• Engaged in some behavior that would appear, in the eyes of an ordinary observer, to be either masturbation or sexual conduct

The jury instructions for public indecency by the Ohio Judicial Conference are found in 2 OJI-CR 507.09 for offenses committed on and after September 26, 2005. The jury instructions were last revised on February 24, 2007.

Definitions Under the Public Indecency Statute

The phrase “likely to be viewed by and affront” is defined to mean that reasonable persons of common intelligence who are likely to view the conduct would likely be offended if they saw the conduct.

“Private parts” refers to genitals, although in State v. Jetter (1991), 74 Ohio App.3d 535, the court held that the term “private parts” in the public indecency statute did not include a female breast.

The term “masturbation” means genital self-excitation, usually by manipulation. “Sexual activity” means sexual conduct or sexual contact, or both. “Privilege” means an immunity, license, or right conferred by law or bestowed by express or implied grant, or arising out of status, position, office, or relationship, or growing out of necessity.

Under the public indecency statute, a “minor” is a person under the age of eighteen.

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Penalties for Public Indecency in Ohio

Charges for public indecency in Cincinnati depend on which aspects of the state’s public indecency laws the alleged offender violated.

Exposing Private Parts

• First offense: fourth-degree misdemeanor
• Subsequent offense: third-degree misdemeanor
• Third offense: second-degree misdemeanor
• Third offense with a minor: first-degree misdemeanor
• Fourth or more offense: first-degree misdemeanor
• Fourth or more offense with a minor: fifth-degree felony

Engaging in Masturbation or Sexual Conduct or Acting in a Way that Would Appear to be Masturbation or Sexual Conduct

• First offense: third-degree misdemeanor
• Subsequent offense: second-degree misdemeanor
• Subsequent offense with a minor: first-degree misdemeanor
• Third offense: first-degree misdemeanor
• Third-degree with a minor: fifth-degree felony

Exposing Private Parts for Personal Sexual Arousal or Gratification or to Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

• First offense: first-degree misdemeanor
• Subsequent offense: fifth-degree felony

Penalties and Punishments for Various Charges in Ohio

The following punishments and fines apply to the corresponding criminal charges in Ohio:

• Felony of the fifth degree: Prison term between 6 and 12 months and a fine up to $2,500
• Misdemeanor of the first degree: Jail time of up to 180 days and a fine up to $1,000
• Misdemeanor of the second degree: Jail time of up to 90 days and a fine up to $750
• Misdemeanor of the third degree: Jail time of up to 60 days and a fine up to $500
• Misdemeanor of the fourth degree: Jail time of up to 30 days and a fine up to $250

Classification as a Sex Offender

In some cases, it falls on the court’s discretion whether to classify a public indecency offender as a tier I sex offender or child-victim offender (the latter would apply in cases of exposing to a minor to entice them to engage in sexual conduct). The court may make this decision if the offender is less than 10 years older than the other person involved, or if their age is greater than 10 years more than the other party, it is a first offense.

However, if a person is more than 10 years older than the involved individual and has been previously convicted or pleaded guilty to this section of the Ohio R.C., the court will automatically issue an order classifying the defendant as a Tier I sex offender/child-victim offender.

As the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department describes, a Tier I offender must abide by sex offender registration and verification requirements every year for 15 years after they are registered. Neighborhood notifications do not apply to Tier I offender.

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Defenses Against Public Indecency in Hamilton County

In defending their client against public indecency charges in Cincinnati, a criminal defense lawyer can choose from several defense strategies.

Procedural Defenses

In some cases, a procedural defense—one that speaks to evidentiary or constitutional violations rather than asserting innocence—presents the best potential for a positive outcome. Examples of procedural defenses include:

• Illegal seizing of evidence
• Failure to provide an attorney
• Failure to indict

Substantive Defenses

In other cases, defense counsel opts to raise reasonable doubt as to the public indecency charges by creating reasonable doubt. Examples of this type of defense include:

• Defendant’s actions did not constitute indecent conduct.
• Defendant was married to the other party.
• The other party was an adult member of the defendant’s household.
• The alleged victim was not in the defendant’s physical proximity.
• The victim was not offended by the defendant’s conduct.

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Additional Resources for Public Indecency in Cincinnati

Ohio Revised Code 2907.09 Public Indecency

Visit Ohio’s Revised Code under Title 29 for sexually motivated offenses, including public indecency charged under 2907.09, including the elements of the offense, possible penalties, statutory definitions, and defenses.

Cincinnati Police Department

As the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Cincinnati, this department employs 1,000 police officers. Use this website to file a complaint, ask questions, request records and reports, and access other services. You can report a case of public indecency to the Cincinnati Police Department.

YWCA Cincinnati

The YWCA offers a Violence Prevention and Intervention program that provides intervention services, shelter and housing, and youth services and resources to the people of Cincinnati. The organization’s Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours to those who need guidance in safety planning, risk assessment, crisis counseling, and support. Visit the YWCA website or call the hotline at 888-872-9259.

Ohio Revised Code 2953.32

This section of the Ohio Revised Code explains Ohio’s laws regarding having your public indecency conviction record sealed. The law explains time constraints as they relate to various levels of charges. It also explains the procedure for petitioning a court of common pleas for the sealing of your record, as well as the process you can expect to follow the filing of your application.

U.S. Supreme Court Case Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc.

This paper, published in Middle Tennessee State University’s The First Amendment Encyclopedia, discusses the landmark Supreme court decision, Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc. addressed the issue of whether the state of Indiana’s regulation of totally nude dancing would be in violation of the First Amendment.

The court ruled the state could, in fact, regulate this type of entertainment without committing a First Amendment violation. The case stemmed from two Indiana nude dancing establishments that tried to block enforcement of public indecency statutes, which required that dancers wear pasties and G-strings.