Ohio Code 2907.19 – Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor
(A) As used in this section:
Attorney's Note
Under the Ohio Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the third degree | 9 months to 5 years | up to $10,000 |
Terms Used In Ohio Code 2907.19
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Whoever: includes all persons, natural and artificial; partners; principals, agents, and employees; and all officials, public or private. See Ohio Code 1.02
(1) “Advertisement for sexual activity for hire” or “advertisement” means any advertisement or offer in electronic or print media that includes an explicit or implicit offer for sexual activity for hire to occur in this state.
(2) “Depiction” means any photograph, film, videotape, visual material, or printed material.
(3) “Person” has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code.
(B) No person shall knowingly purchase or otherwise obtain advertising space for an advertisement for sexual activity for hire that includes a depiction of a minor.
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor, a felony of the third degree.
(D)(1) In any prosecution under this section, it is not a defense that the offender did not know the age of the person depicted in the advertisement, relied on an oral or written representation of the age of the person depicted in the advertisement, or relied on the apparent age of the person depicted in the advertisement.
(2) In any prosecution under this section, it is an affirmative defense that the offender, prior to purchasing advertising space for the advertisement, made a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of the person depicted in the advertisement by requiring the person depicted in the advertisement to produce a driver’s license, marriage license, birth certificate, or other government issued or school issued document that identifies the age of the person, provided the offender retains and produces a copy or other record of the driver’s license, marriage license, birth certificate, or other document used to ascertain the age of the person depicted in the advertisement.