State v. Steele

{¶ 1} In this appeal and cross-appeal, we are presented with two issues. First, we consider whether police officers are exempt from prosecution for the offense of intimidation when accused of abusing their power to interrogate. We hold that R.C. 2921.03 provides no such exemption. A police officer may be convicted of intimidation when the state presents evidence that the police officer knowingly filed a materially false complaint in order to influence or intimidate a witness.

{¶ 2} Second, we consider what instructions a trial court must provide to a jury on the definition of the “privilege”…