State v. Chaney

The sole issue presented in this case is the propriety of the jury instruction on the value of the items stolen.

The question is important as R.C. 2913.02 distinguishes theft offenses according, inter alia, to the value of the property stolen. Prior to its amendment on January 1, 1983,1 the statute provided that where the value of the *210item was less than one hundred fifty dollars, the offense was petty theft, a first degree misdemeanor.2 Where the value was one hundred fifty dollars or more, the offense was grand theft, a felony of the fourth degree.3

The guidelines for determining value are set…