It can be difficult at first glance to understand certain phrases used in law. An example made its way into the news a few days ago when a man was arrested for having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony.
This Ohio law forbids certain people from possessing a weapon, trying to get one, carrying one or using a weapon.
People affected by the law include the following:
- Fugitives
- Someone who has been indicted for a violent crime or has been convicted of a violent crime.
- Someone who was convicted as a child for what would be considered a violent felony if they had been an adult.
- Chronic alcoholics, drug users or those in danger of becoming drug-dependent
- You have been deemed by a judge as mentally incompetent, mentally defective or mentally ill or you have been committed to a mental health facility.
In a case we read of recently, the suspect was in a halfway house when arrested. He had been also indicted by a grand jury for charges related to the confiscation of more than a pound of crystal meth.
He has also apparently been convicted in the past on a drug trafficking charge. The article was unclear on how much time he served in prison for that offense.
Because having weapons under disability is a third-degree felony, it is punishable by up to 36 months in prison. With a conviction on your record, many people will consider you a violent criminal from that day forward.
With the help of an attorney experienced in criminal defense, you can fight to protect your freedom and reputation.
