Indiana criminal charge
Inappropriate communication with a child in Indiana
Inappropriate communication with a child is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13. Its classification is not fixed: Indiana assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13.
What is the penalty for inappropriate communication with a child in Indiana?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 180 days (Sexual grooming — base offense — A person at least 18 communicates with or repeatedly contacts an individual believed to be under 14 concerning sexual activity or to condition them to future sexual conduct, with intent to gratify sexual desires or reduce resistance.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Sexual grooming — base offense — A person at least 18 communicates with or repeatedly contacts an individual believed to be under 14 concerning sexual activity or to condition them to future sexual conduct, with intent to gratify sexual desires or reduce resistance.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Sexual grooming — via computer network — The offense is committed by using a computer network as defined in IC 35-43-2-3(a).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Sexual grooming — via computer network — The offense is committed by using a computer network as defined in IC 35-43-2-3(a).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 30 months (Sexual grooming — prior conviction — The person has a prior unrelated conviction under this section or for a sex offense as defined in IC 11-8-8-5.2.; fixed term; advisory sentence 1 year; court may enter judgment of conviction as a Class A misdemeanor in limited circumstances (IC 35-50-2-7(c))) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Sexual grooming — prior conviction — The person has a prior unrelated conviction under this section or for a sex offense as defined in IC 11-8-8-5.2.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
Applies to current.
How is inappropriate communication with a child classified in Indiana?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual grooming — base offense | Class B Misdemeanor | A person at least 18 communicates with or repeatedly contacts an individual believed to be under 14 concerning sexual activity or to condition them to future sexual conduct, with intent to gratify sexual desires or reduce resistance. | Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13(c) |
| Sexual grooming — via computer network | Class A Misdemeanor | The offense is committed by using a computer network as defined in IC 35-43-2-3(a). | Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13(c) |
| Sexual grooming — prior conviction | Level 6 Felony | The person has a prior unrelated conviction under this section or for a sex offense as defined in IC 11-8-8-5.2. | Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13(c) |
Common questions about inappropriate communication with a child in Indiana
Is inappropriate communication with a child a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
It depends on the circumstances: inappropriate communication with a child ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Level 6 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13.
Sexual grooming — base offense: Class B Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13(c)) · Sexual grooming — via computer network: Class A Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13(c)) · Sexual grooming — prior conviction: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13(c))
What are the penalties for inappropriate communication with a child in Indiana?
Penalties for inappropriate communication with a child in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Misdemeanor up to a Level 6 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3, Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Indiana statute covers inappropriate communication with a child?
Inappropriate communication with a child is governed by Ind. Code § 35-42-4-13 (Inappropriate communication with a child).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.