2006 Ohio Revised Code - 2929.02. Penalties for murder.

§ 2929.02. Penalties for murder.
 

(A)  Whoever is convicted of or pleads guilty to aggravated murder in violation of section 2903.01 of the Revised Code shall suffer death or be imprisoned for life, as determined pursuant to sections 2929.022 [2929.02.2], 2929.03, and 2929.04 of the Revised Code, except that no person who raises the matter of age pursuant to section 2929.023 [2929.02.3] of the Revised Code and who is not found to have been eighteen years of age or older at the time of the commission of the offense shall suffer death. In addition, the offender may be fined an amount fixed by the court, but not more than twenty-five thousand dollars. 

(B)  Whoever is convicted of or pleads guilty to murder in violation of section 2903.02 of the Revised Code shall be imprisoned for an indefinite term of fifteen years to life, except that, if the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a sexual motivation specification and a sexually violent predator specification that were included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information that charged the murder, the court shall impose upon the offender a term of life imprisonment without parole that shall be served pursuant to section 2971.03 of the Revised Code. In addition, the offender may be fined an amount fixed by the court, but not more than fifteen thousand dollars. 

(C)  The court shall not impose a fine or fines for aggravated murder or murder which, in the aggregate and to the extent not suspended by the court, exceeds the amount which the offender is or will be able to pay by the method and within the time allowed without undue hardship to the offender or to the dependents of the offender, or will prevent the offender from making reparation for the victim's wrongful death. 
 

HISTORY: 134 v H 511 (Eff 1-1-74); 139 v S 1 (Eff 10-19-81); 146 v H 180 (Eff 1-1-97); 147 v S 107. Eff 7-29-98.
 

See provisions, § 4 of HB 180 (146 v  - ), following RC § 2921.34. 

 

19xx Committee Report or Comment.

1974 Committee Comment to H 511

This section establishes the penalty for aggravated murder as life imprisonment or death, plus an optional fine of up to $25,000. The penalty to be imposed in a given case of aggravated murder is determined by the procedure given in sections 2929.03 and 2929.04. The penalty for murder is given as imprisonment for 15 years to life, plus an optional fine of $15,000. A fine for aggravated murder or murder may not be imposed unless the crime was committed for hire or profit, or in support of organized crime. Also, a fine or fines may not be imposed, which to the extent not suspended exceeds the amount the offender can pay without undue hardship to himself or his dependents, or which will prevent him from making reparation for the victim's death.