What Happens After an Importuning and Disseminating Harmful Matter Charge in Ohio?

Attorney Answer

These are serious sex offense charges in Ohio, and there is a lot you can do right now to support your boyfriend, even though you are not the one facing the case.

Importuning under Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.07 generally involves soliciting a minor for sexual activity, often through phone, text, or online communication, and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles under Ohio Rev. Code § 2907.31 involves showing or providing obscene or harmful material to a minor. Importuning is a felony in Ohio, while disseminating matter harmful to juveniles can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the material involved and the age of the child. Penalties depend on the specific facts and any prior record. An importuning conviction also generally requires registration as a sex offender under Ohio's sex offender registration law (Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 2950), with the exact tier depending on the offense.

What matters most right now is that he has a lawyer. If he cannot afford one, he has the right to ask the court to appoint a public defender at his first court appearance, called an arraignment. If he already has a court date, do not miss it. If he has already been convicted and is serving a sentence, the focus shifts to appeals or other post-conviction options, which have strict filing deadlines, so a lawyer's review is still urgent.

Ways you can help: - Find out whether he already has an attorney, and if not, help him contact the county public defender's office or a private criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. - Do not discuss the facts of the case over jail phone calls or in writing, since those calls are often recorded and can be used later. - Ask the attorney or the jail about visitation rules, since bail conditions or no-contact orders may restrict who he can see or talk to, especially if any restriction touches your own contact with him. - Attend court dates if you are able and permitted to, since support in the courtroom can matter. - Avoid posting about the case on social media.

Because the specific charges, his criminal history, and how the case unfolds all affect the possible outcomes and timeline, only a defense attorney reviewing the actual case file can give a real assessment. This is general legal information, not legal advice, and a local Ohio criminal defense lawyer can advise on his specific situation.