Ohio text sets penalties for moving remains to hide evidence

A person may not purposely move or remove human remains to hide an unlawful act, a death, its cause, or the remains. It applies to any person, unless the law otherwise authorizes the move or removal. The prohibition does not apply when a woman moves remains from her own spontaneous miscarriage or stillbirth, when someone she authorizes does so, or when a health care professional does so while providing care within their professional role.

A person convicted of moving or removing human remains commits a third-degree felony, and the text presumes a prison term should be imposed. The offense covers purposeful moves or removals for the concealment purposes listed in the text.

A court must add five years in prison when a person is convicted of a felony and the required specification is also proved. The five-year term applies to a person convicted of a felony with this specification. The charge must specifically say that the person moved or removed remains to hide an unlawful act, a death, its cause, or the remains. The five-year term cannot be reduced under the listed sentence-reduction laws.