About Ohio Forgery Charges and Forged Identification Cards

Columbus Ohio Forgery Defense Attorney

Check forgery is one of the most common forms of theft in the state of Ohio.  It is covered in Ohio Revised Code 2913.31.  Forging another person's signature without the other person's authority is a felony.  Depending upon the value of property or services involved, forgery charges may be of the 5th degree in Ohio or up to a 2nd degree felony if the victim is an elderly person or a disabled adult.

The amounts of property or services for Ohio forgery crimes in Ohio and their corresponding level of felony are set forth below:

less than $5,00 is a felony of the 5th degree in Ohio
$5,000 - $99,999 is a felony of the 4th degree in Ohio
$100,000 or more is a felony of the 3rd degree in Ohio

Each of these felonies are enhanced if the victim is elderly or a disabled adult.   

Forged Identification Cards in Ohio is a misdemeanor in Ohio.  Knowingly forging an identification card or selling or distributing a card that purports to be an identification card is common among high school and college students.    In addition to it being a misdemeanor of the first degree, it is a crime of fraud, dishonesty, and deceit.  Many future employers and/or admissions committee will undoubtedly look at this conviction with disfavor. 

 
It is considered to be a serious criminal act to forge another person's name on a document such as a check or other financial instrument, no matter what the reasons were.  The prosecutor will be determined to convict you, and will have the support of law enforcement and the evidence found.  In such a case, it becomes critical to have a skilled Columbus forgery defense lawyer fighting for your side.

Forgery Defense Lawyer in Columbus

The legal team at the firm has represented clients charged with forgery cases.   It is crucial in criminal defense cases that the legal team from Koffel Law Firm gets onto the case as quickly as possible after the arrest, or if you are under investigation for in a serious forgery case, prior to the arrest.  A strong defense case starts early.  The criminal system moves very fast and if you fail to get a defense lawyer to represent you quickly, you could suffer unnecessary consequences.