A Cincinnati man is facing a mix of theft and image-sharing charges after authorities say he took a woman's cellphones, drove off in her car, and then posted a private nude photo of her online. Court records and investigators say the encounter ended with the suspect grabbing the victim's keys and two phones, smashing one of the devices on the ground, and leaving in her vehicle. The case blends old-fashioned property crime with the fast-growing category of nonconsensual image sharing that Ohio has moved to criminalize.
Court documents identify the suspect as Randall Deon Johnson Jr., who allegedly took the two phones and the woman's keys, then later uploaded a nude image of her to social media, according to WKRC. Johnson is charged with theft, criminal damage, and unlawful distribution of an image depicting another individual, the station reports. He made his initial appearance in a local courtroom on Wednesday.
State law and penalties
Ohio updated its statutes in 2025 to directly target nonconsensual sharing of private sexual images. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2917.211, that type of conduct can be prosecuted as a felony, and the statute specifically includes fabricated sexual images that are distributed without consent. In addition to criminal penalties, a victim can seek civil relief under ORC 2307.66, which allows for injunctions and monetary damages.
What happens next
WKRC reports that Johnson appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday, although the station did not provide information on his bond or a scheduled return date. In Hamilton County, municipal criminal cases typically come back before a judge for arraignment and bond decisions, and the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts maintains a public name-search portal where charges and court dates are posted. As the case moves forward, additional filings and hearing dates are expected to show up on that public docket.
