COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State Representative Josh Williams, a Republican from Toledo, introduced H.B. 639 on Tuesday. The bill aims to amend sections 2152.17, 2917.02, and 2929.14, and to enact section 2941.1427 of the Revised Code. The proposed legislation seeks to modify the offense of aggravated riot when the offender is wearing a mask or disguise and mandates an additional prison term of one year for those convicted of a felony while masked or disguised.
The bill specifies that if an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, and also to the specification that they wore a mask or disguise during the commission of the offense, they would face an extra year in prison.
This legislative move follows comments made by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in May, advocating for the use of a 1953 law against protestors. The law, a misdemeanor under ORC 3761.12, prohibits wearing white caps, masks, or other disguises and was originally enacted in response to the increased violence perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klan.