How much is a felony bond in Ohio?

Felony bond amounts in Ohio depend on the degree. F1 felonies typically bond at $100,000 or more (often no bond pending hearing), F2 at $50,000–$250,000, F3 at $10,000–$50,000, F4 at $5,000–$25,000, and F5 at $2,500–$10,000. Prior record and case facts can move these amounts substantially.

What does a felony bail bondsman cost in Ohio?

The bondsman premium is fixed by Ohio statute at 10% of the bond amount, regardless of whether the case is a misdemeanor or a felony. A $25,000 felony bond costs $2,500 in bondsman premium.

Can a felony bond be posted at night in Ross County?

Yes. Once a judge has set the bond, the Ross County Jail accepts surety bonds 24/7. Fountain Bonding can post felony bonds at the jail any hour of any day.

Why do felony cases require two courts in Ohio?

Felony cases start in Municipal Court for the initial appearance and bond, then bind over to Common Pleas Court after a preliminary hearing or grand jury indictment. The Common Pleas judge can review and modify the bond.

What conditions of release are common for felony bonds in Ohio?

Common conditions include no-contact orders, GPS or electronic monitoring, drug or alcohol testing, travel restrictions, and curfew. Violating any condition can result in bond revocation.

Felony Bail Bonds in Ohio: Complete 2026 Guide for Ross County

Fountain Bonding
May 4
4 min read

Felony charges feel different. The bond is bigger. The courthouse is further. The phone calls are scarier. Most of what you read online is written for the whole country, not for someone trying to figure out a Ross County felony at 2 a.m.

This guide explains how felony bail bonds actually work in Ohio — the five degrees of felony, what bond amounts to expect in Ross County, why felonies require two court appearances, and how a bondsman can post a felony bond the same day. Need to talk now? Call Fountain Bonding at (380) 288-3411.

The Five Degrees of Felony in Ohio

Ohio classifies felonies by degree, with F1 being the most serious and F5 being the least serious. Bond amounts and release conditions track the degree closely:

F1 (First-degree felony) — murder, rape, aggravated robbery, large drug-trafficking quantities. Bonds typically $100,000+, often "no bond" until a hearing.
F2 (Second-degree felony) — felonious assault, burglary of an occupied home, large-scale drug possession, kidnapping. Bonds typically $50,000–$250,000.
F3 (Third-degree felony) — many drug possession charges, weapons under disability, certain sex offenses, robbery (some types), repeat OVI. Bonds typically $10,000–$50,000.
F4 (Fourth-degree felony) — most low-level drug possession, breaking and entering of unoccupied structures, theft $7,500–$150,000. Bonds typically $5,000–$25,000.
F5 (Fifth-degree felony) — drug abuse, theft $1,000–$7,500, receiving stolen property, certain forgery. Bonds typically $2,500–$10,000.

These ranges are what we see in Ross County in 2026. Two people charged with the same felony degree can still get very different bonds depending on prior record, ties to the community, and whether anyone was hurt.

Common Felony Charges in Ross County

By volume, the felonies we post bonds for most often in Ross County are:

Drug possession (F3–F5) — meth, fentanyl, cocaine, large-quantity marijuana.
Drug trafficking (F1–F4) — bonds escalate fast based on weight and proximity to schools.
Felonious assault (F2) — usually a higher bond and a no-contact order.
Burglary (F2–F4) — depends on whether the structure was occupied.
Receiving stolen property (F4–F5) — common after vehicle/firearm thefts.
Weapons under disability (F3) — possessing a firearm with a prior felony.
Repeat OVI (F3 or F4 depending on priors and details).
Domestic violence — felony version when there are prior DV convictions or a child was present.

For DUI/OVI specifically, see our OVI guide. For drug charges, see our drug-charge bail bonds page. For domestic violence cases, see our domestic violence bail bonds page.

Two Courts: Why Felonies Take a Beat Longer

Misdemeanors are handled entirely in Chillicothe Municipal Court. Felonies are different — they pass through two courts:

Initial appearance — Chillicothe Municipal Court. Within 24-48 hours of arrest, the municipal judge reviews the felony complaint, sets a bond, and schedules a preliminary hearing.
Bind-over — Ross County Common Pleas Court. After the preliminary hearing (or after a grand jury indictment), the case moves to Common Pleas. The new judge can review and modify the bond at the next pre-trial.

In practice this means a bond posted at Municipal Court typically carries over to Common Pleas — but the new judge can raise it, lower it, or change conditions. We track every defendant we bond out and let you know if anything changes.

Cost: The Same 10% Rule Applies

Felony bonds are bigger, but the math is the same. Ohio law fixes the bondsman premium at 10% of the bond amount, and that doesn't change for felonies. See our Ross County pricing breakdown for the full picture. A few quick examples for felony-range bonds:

$10,000 felony bond → $1,000 bondsman premium
$25,000 felony bond → $2,500 bondsman premium
$50,000 felony bond → $5,000 bondsman premium
$100,000 felony bond → $10,000 bondsman premium

On larger felony bonds, collateral often comes into play — a vehicle title, real estate, or another bondable asset. We work with families to find a structure that gets the defendant out without putting the indemnitor in a worse spot than the defendant.

Conditions of Release for Felony Cases

Felony judges almost always attach conditions to the bond. Common ones in Ross County:

No-contact orders — keep away from victims, co-defendants, witnesses.
GPS / electronic monitoring — typical for violent felonies and repeat offenders.
Drug testing — random screens through the court or a private monitoring company.
Alcohol abstinence — sometimes with SCRAM-style continuous monitoring.
Travel restrictions — usually no leaving Ohio without written permission.
Curfew — common for drug felonies.

Violating any of these is enough to revoke the bond. If the defendant doesn't think they can comply with a condition, raise it with the attorney before the next pre-trial — the time to argue is in court, not on the curb.

How to Post a Felony Bond Today

Fountain Bonding has posted felony bonds at the Ross County Jail every week for years. The process is the same as any other bond, just with a bit more paperwork and (usually) a cosigner:

Call (380) 288-3411 with the defendant's name, the bond amount, and the court that set it.
We confirm the bond and any holds with the jail.
We quote the 10% premium plus discuss collateral if needed.
Indemnitors sign paperwork in person at our Chillicothe office or via secure e-sign.
We post the bond at the appropriate court and walk it to the jail.
Defendant is processed for release — usually 2-6 hours from the time we post.

Felony Bonds Don't Need to Wait Until Morning

If a Municipal Court judge has already set a felony bond — even at 11 p.m. on a Sunday — we can post it. Ross County Jail accepts surety bonds 24/7 once they're properly issued. The only delay is jail processing speed.

If a bond hasn't been set yet (e.g., arrested late on a Friday), the defendant typically waits for the next available judge. We'll be ready to post the moment the bond is on file.

Talk to a Real Bondsman, Not a Call Center

Felony cases are not the time for a national 1-800 referral service. Call us directly: (380) 288-3411. We're licensed in Ohio, located in Chillicothe, and we know every clerk and corrections officer in Ross County by first name. We'll be straight with you about what's possible, what it costs, and how fast we can have your loved one home.