Cincinnati Prosecutor Ready to Charge People for Breaking Stay-at-Home Order
Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters says he has given the green light to file felony charges on anyone who commits serious physical harm by defying stay-at-home orders.

Courtesy Cincinnati Police Department/Handout via Reuters
An Ohio prosecutor wants to make defying the stay-at-home order over the coronavirus pandemic a felony. Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters told a local radio station that he has given the sheriff’s department the green light to charge anyone who leaves home without a valid reason. “You are attempting, in my mind as a prosecutor, to commit serious physical harm to people and that is felonious assault,” Deters said Saturday. “So fine, sit your butt in a jail. You can sit there and kill yourself. I don’t care, but you’re not going to kill my kids and you’re not going to kill my neighbors’ kids. I’m done with this nonsense, so we’ll see what happens.” Deters said he is especially concerned about group religious activities that he believes should be completely outlawed. “We’re stopping it,” he said. “No one is asking you not to pray to God. No one is asking you not to pray to Allah. No one is asking you not to pray. It can be done remotely.”
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.