COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down
the state’s child enticement law, concluding it’s too broad and outlaws
several activities protected by the state constitution.
The 5-2
decision came in the case of a Columbus man charged with
child-enticement after asking a child to carry boxes to his apartment
for money.
Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger says in the court’s
Thursday ruling that while the law has the admirable goal of preventing
child abductions and lewd acts against children, it can’t also ban
protected speech and activity.
Last year a state appeals court in
Akron threw out the conviction of a man accused under the same law of
trying to entice a 13-year-old girl to be his Facebook friend.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down
the state’s child enticement law, concluding it’s too broad and outlaws
several activities protected by the state constitution.
The 5-2
decision came in the case of a Columbus man charged with
child-enticement after asking a child to carry boxes to his apartment
for money.
Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger says in the court’s
Thursday ruling that while the law has the admirable goal of preventing
child abductions and lewd acts against children, it can’t also ban
protected speech and activity.
Last year a state appeals court in
Akron threw out the conviction of a man accused under the same law of
trying to entice a 13-year-old girl to be his Facebook friend.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.