Source: https://ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=88902
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 17:45:45+00:00

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One of my cousins will be getting out of prison next year after serving a sentence for white collar crime. My wife suggested that we offer him a place to stay for a while until he gets back on his feet. Is that even an option with firearms in the house?
Depends on the rules of his parole. Keep in mind it also opens you up to losing your 4th Amendment right for your residence. Pretty much his parole officer can say they want to verify if there are firearms in the house and you cannot deny them entry. Well, you can, but then your cousin goes back to prison.
I would tell him that you are sorry he made some poor choices in life, but you will not be able to accommodate him in your house.
I have a family member who is a felon. I don't allow him in my house at all.
Sorry - he made his choices, so I have made mine as well.
What is the actual law regarding felons and the presence of firearms in a building where they don't reside? Is it all a matter of access? Would firearms locked in a safe be an issue? Can I hire a convicted felon to work at my business and still legally carry my firearm?
Is there a section of the ORC where this is spelled out?
gilly32 wrote: What is the actual law regarding felons and the presence of firearms in a building where they don't reside? Is it all a matter of access? Would firearms locked in a safe be an issue? Can I hire a convicted felon to work at my business and still legally carry my firearm?
So it looks to me like it really is about possession and access - they can't have them, you can't give them one, nor can you "Recklessly ... furnish" one to them - I would think that failing to lock up any firearms that are not under your direct control when they are (or even might) be there would be reckless. I thought the same thing applied to ammunition, but I don't see that in these sections of Ohio law so that might be a Federal restriction, I don't know.
Edit: Yes, the ammunition prohibition is in Federal law, and the Federal law regarding firearms, ammunition and prohibited persons looks to be about possession and access as well.
I looked into this for a friend some time ago. From what I remember even if you have all your guns in a safe the felon can be charged with possession if he knows where the key is, and can get to it.
"[u]nless relieved from disability under operation of law or legal process, no person shall knowingly acquire, have, carry, or use any firearm or dangerous ordnance, if * * * [t]he person is under indictment for or has been convicted of any felony offense of violence or has been adjudicated a delinquent child for the commission of an offense that, if committed by an adult, would have been a felony offense of violence."
In State v. Adams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93513, 2010-Ohio-4478, this court held that in order to “have” a firearm or dangerous ordnance within the meaning of R.C. 2923.13, an individual must either actually or constructively possess it.
Id. at ¶ 19, citing State v. Hardy, 60 Ohio App.2d 325, 327, 397 N.E.2d 773 (8th Dist.1978). “The issue of whether a person charged with having weapons while under disability knowingly acquired, had, carried, or used any firearm or dangerous ordnance ‘is to be determined from all the attendant facts and circumstances available.’” State v. Bray, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92619, 2009-Ohio-6461, ¶ 21, quoting State v. Teamer, 82 Ohio St.3d 490, 492, 696 N.E.2d 1049 (1998).
Constructive possession may * * * be inferred when a person has dominion or control over the premises upon which the object in question is found and knows that the object is on those premises. State v. Scalf (1998), 126 Ohio App.3d 614, 710 N.E.2d 1206. Furthermore, a person may knowingly possess or control property belonging to another; the state need not establish ownership to prove constructive possession. See State v. Robinson, 8th Dist. [Cuyahoga] No. 90751, 2008-Ohio-5580. Bray at ¶ 23. Ownership does not need to be proven, and constructive possession may be established by circumstantial evidence. State v. Blue, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 10CA009765, 2011-Ohio-511, ¶ 17.
Still a little muddy to me.
Not a fugitive, convicted and served his time.
Not a violent offence, white collar. I'd be more concerned about access to a computer than a firearm.
Felony did not involve illegal substances in any way.
So would his parole office or my county prosecutor be the one to talk to about an exact interpretation?
walnut red wrote: Still a little muddy to me.
Federal law does not distinguish between violent and non-violent felonies - in fact, it doesn't even specify felonies, simply "a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" - note that this says "punishable", not "sentenced to" so if you *could* be sentenced to more than a year, the crime disqualifies the offender from possessing firearms or ammunition.
So, although they might not be prohibited under Ohio law, they can still be prohibited under Federal law, which appears to be the case here.
Thanks, Federal is much clearer in this case.
JediSkipdogg wrote: Depends on the rules of his parole. Keep in mind it also opens you up to losing your 4th Amendment right for your residence. Pretty much his parole officer can say they want to verify if there are firearms in the house and you cannot deny them entry. Well, you can, but then your cousin goes back to prison.
Parole for most felony offenses has not existed since 1996. Post-release control supervision is a possibility, but that is optional. I don't know what type of "white collar crime" is being referred to, but I'm guessing that post-release control is less than likely. Simply put, continued supervision after release is far from a foregone conclusion.
I would talk to a Parole Officer to find out, they would probably know best. Find out before he gets out so he knows if he has to make other arrangements.

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