(7-27-25) Joseph Hopson (39) of Lima was arrested by the Mercer County Sheriff’s office on several felony charges.

Hopson is charged with a 4th degree felony of safecracking, 5th degree felony of theft deception and and a 1st degree misdemeanor charge of falsification, public official, mislead.

He is awaiting a Mercer County Common Pleas Court hearing while be housed in the Mercer County Adult Detention Center.

Safecracking in Ohio is a serious offense defined by Section 2911.31 of the Ohio Revised Code. 

Specifically, the law states that:

  • No person, with purpose to commit an offense, shall knowingly enter, force an entrance into, or tamper with any vault, safe, or strongbox. 

Violating this section is considered safecracking, which is a fourth-degree felony. Safecracking is seen as a moderately serious crime, often involving burglary and requiring a certain level of skill. A conviction can result in a prison sentence of 6-18 months. 

The current Ohio safecracking law is an updated version that no longer requires the use of tools, devices, or explosives, as safes can be opened without them. The law also focuses on the intent to commit an offense, regardless of whether the safe contains valuables. The term “strongbox” was introduced to include a broader range of containers. 

While often linked to other crimes like breaking and entering, safecracking is treated as a separate offense for sentencing. If a theft involves breaking into a safe, it may be charged as safecracking even if it could also be a theft charge, according to Avvo.