A gun charge raises the stakes on bond, because Ohio law tells judges to weigh whether a weapon was involved when they set the amount. Harvey Handler Bail Bonds writes bonds on weapons charges in Licking County from our Newark office. This page explains the charges, the courts and the conditions so you can plan the next step. It is one of the charge pages under Types of Bail Bonds We Write.
The weapons charges we see most often
Three Ohio statutes cover most weapons arrests that reach the Licking County Justice Center. The charge level printed on the sheriff's Active Inmate Listing tells you which version was filed.
| Charge | Ohio statute | Usual level |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying concealed weapons | R.C. 2923.12 | Varies by circumstance, misdemeanor or felony |
| Improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle | R.C. 2923.16 | Ranges from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony, depending on the division |
| Having weapons while under disability | R.C. 2923.13 | Third-degree felony |
"Under disability" means the law bars that person from having a firearm, for example because of certain earlier convictions or certain pending charges listed in the statute. Because it is a third-degree felony, it goes to the felony court even when the gun was never used.
Weapons charges also travel with other offenses. A drug case can carry a firearm specification, and an assault case can carry a weapon count. When that happens, the bond usually covers the whole case rather than each charge separately, and the listing shows one bond amount repeated on every charge line.
Which Licking County court hears the case
Misdemeanor weapons charges, such as the lower divisions of the vehicle-handling statute, are filed in the Licking County Municipal Court. A stop in Utica or Buckeye Lake ends up on the same Newark docket as one downtown. Questions about the case go to the municipal clerk on the third floor of the City Building, (740) 670-7800.
Felony weapons charges, including every disability count, end up in Common Pleas. The felony bench works out of the old county courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square, and its General Division takes every felony prosecution filed in Licking County. On the listing, felony cases appear to carry "CR" docket numbers and statuses such as "AWAIT CPC INDICTMENT" before a grand jury acts. Our page on felony arraignment and bond in Common Pleas follows a felony from indictment to bond review.
How a judge sets bond on a gun charge
Ohio's pretrial release statute, R.C. 2937.011, lists what a court must consider. The first item on that list is the nature of the crime and specifically whether the defendant used or had access to a weapon. Next come the strength of the case, prior convictions, a job and family nearby, and any supervision the defendant was already under, such as probation, parole, another bond or a protection order.
In practice, that means a weapons count can push the bond higher than the same case without a gun. A misdemeanor handling charge from a traffic stop may still fall under the municipal court's bail schedule. A disability charge or a felony with a firearm specification will almost always wait for a judge.
A gun count does not let the court hold someone indefinitely without a bond decision. The two-court-day limit in division (J) applies here as it does on every other charge.
Conditions a judge can add
Money is only one part of a weapons bond. Under division (D) of R.C. 2937.011, the court can add conditions such as:
- No possession of firearms or other deadly weapons while the case is pending
- No contact with a named person, including the alleged victim or witnesses
- Electronic monitoring or house arrest
- Limits on travel or on where the person lives
- Supervision by the court's pretrial or probation staff
A condition that orders firearms out of the home often means someone has to arrange where those guns go. Ask the defense attorney how to do that properly. Breaking a bond condition can lead to the bond being revoked and the person returned to jail, and the court may also declare the bond forfeited.
Posting a bond on a weapons charge
Look at the end of the disposition line. If it reads "CASH/SURETY", the clerk wants the entire figure in cash unless a bail agent bonds it. If it reads "CASH/SURETY 10%", a family can also put down a tenth of the figure with the court and get most of that back when the case closes cleanly. On weapons cases the figures are often large enough that a surety bond from us is the practical route; our bond types page explains each code.
The premium on a gun-charge bond comes from our approved state filing, and R.C. 3905.93 requires us to name any expense fee in advance. On a high felony bond, ask us early what security, if any, the surety will want, so the paperwork is not held up later. The documents involved are listed in our bail bond paperwork guide.
Release can be delayed by holds from other courts or agencies, which show on the listing as separate lines. We do not promise a release time.
Questions families ask
Is having a weapon while under disability bailable in Ohio?
It is usually bailable. It is a third-degree felony, so a judge sets the bond after reviewing the case rather than using a schedule. Ohio's denial-of-bail statute covers more serious categories, but a judge can still set a high amount or strict conditions.
Will the court make someone give up their guns while out on bond?
It can. Ohio law lets a judge add any reasonable condition, and an order not to possess firearms during the case is common on weapons charges. The bond order will say exactly what is required.
Why is one bond amount listed on every charge?
Licking County listings often repeat a single case bond on each charge line in that docket. It is one bond for the whole case, not a separate bond per charge.
Can a concealed weapons charge stay a misdemeanor?
Some can. The level depends on the specific division of the statute and the facts, and the charge level appears next to the charge on the inmate listing. A defense attorney can explain which version was filed.
Call our Newark office about a weapons bond
If a family member is being held in Licking County on a weapons charge, call Harvey Handler Bail Bonds at (740) 558-8070. Have the booking number, each docket number and the bond line ready, and we will explain the bond and any conditions before anyone signs. You will find us at 58 S 2nd St, Newark, OH 43055; phone first, and use our Newark office page to plan the trip.
Whether a firearm has to leave the house, and how, is a question for the defense lawyer. We handle the bond.