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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is strongly advocating for a ban on crowdfunding for individuals accused of violent crimes, especially after the man accused of intentionally killing Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson, Rodney Hinton Jr., reportedly raised nearly $100,000 through online platforms.
Yost has publicly condemned these fundraising efforts, stating that “we shouldn’t be crowdfunding an evil-doer.” He is pushing for Ohio lawmakers to pass legislation that would prevent crowdfunding platforms from being used to raise money for criminal defendants, drawing parallels to “Son of Sam” laws that prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes.
While GoFundMe removed fundraisers related to Hinton Jr. after pressure from Ohio law enforcement, another platform, GiveSendGo, has reportedly continued to host campaigns for Hinton Jr.’s family, which have accumulated significant funds. Yost has sent a letter to GiveSendGo, urging them to remove these fundraisers and refund the donations.
Attorneys representing Deputy Henderson’s family are also working with state representatives to amend existing laws to include crowdfunding efforts, aiming to prevent individuals accused of violent crimes from benefiting financially from their alleged actions. They assert that if GiveSendGo does not remove the campaigns, they are prepared to pursue legal action.
Yost emphasizes that while defendants have a constitutional right to a defense, which the state would provide for indigent individuals, crowdfunding for such cases is a “horrible use of the charitable system.” This move reflects a broader concern about the ethical implications of crowdfunding for individuals accused of heinous crimes and the need for legal frameworks to address this evolving issue.

Video courtesy of CSOB

Video courtesy of CSOB