Indiana statute
Ind. Code § 35-42-3.5-1.2 — Promotion of child sexual trafficking; promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 3.5: Human and Sexual Trafficking, Indiana Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Ind. Code § 35-42-3.5-1.2
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Indiana.
Sec. 1.2. (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally recruits, entices, harbors, or transports a child less than eighteen (18) years of age with the intent of causing the child to engage in: (1) prostitution or juvenile prostitution; or (2) a performance or incident that includes sexual conduct in violation of IC 35-42-4-4 (child exploitation); commits promotion of child sexual trafficking, a Level 3 felony. (b) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the: (1) child consented to engage in prostitution or juvenile prostitution or to participate in sexual conduct; or (2) intended victim of the offense is a law enforcement officer. (c) A person who knowingly or intentionally recruits, entices, harbors, or transports a child less than sixteen (16) years of age with the intent of inducing or causing the child to participate in sexual conduct commits promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child, a Level 3 felony. It is a defense to a prosecution under this subsection if: (1) the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age and the person is less than eighteen (18) years of age; or (2) all the following apply: (A) The person is not more than four (4) years older than the victim. (B) The relationship between the person and the victim was a dating relationship or an ongoing personal relationship. The term "ongoing personal relationship" does not include a family relationship. (C) The crime: (i) was not committed by a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; (ii) was not committed by using or threatening the use of deadly force; (iii) was not committed while armed with a deadly weapon; (iv) did not result in serious bodily injury; (v) was not facilitated by furnishing the victim, without the victim's knowledge, with a drug (as defined in IC 16-42-19-2 (1)) or a controlled substance (as defined in IC 35-48-1.1-7 ) or knowing that the victim was furnished with the drug or controlled substance without the victim's knowledge; and (vi) was not committed by a person having a position of authority or substantial influence over the victim. (D) The person has not committed another sex offense (as defined in IC 11-8-8-5.2 ), including a delinquent act that would be a sex offense if committed by an adult, against any other person. (E) The person is not promoting prostitution (as defined in IC 35-45-4-4 ) with respect to the victim even though the person has not been charged with or convicted of the offense.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is promotion of child sexual trafficking; promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
Promotion of child sexual trafficking; promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child is a Level 3 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-42-3.5-1.2.
Which Indiana statute covers promotion of child sexual trafficking; promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child?
Promotion of child sexual trafficking; promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child is governed by Ind. Code § 35-42-3.5-1.2 (Promotion of child sexual trafficking; promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.