Ohio Bill number 337, which was signed into law on June 26, 2012, will expand  eligibility requirements for sealing.  Under statute 2953.32, a person is only eligible to file for sealing if they were a first offender.  Statute 2953.31 defined a first offender as a person “who previously or subsequently has not been convicted of the same or a different offense.”  However, under the amended law a person with multiple offenses may be eligible for sealing.  The amended law states that the petitioner may not have more than one felony conviction and not more than one misdemeanor in OH or any other jurisdiction.  Therefore, the petitioner can have two convictions, as long as one is a misdemeanor and one is a felony.

Written by Mathew Higbee, Esq

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