Child solicitation - Indiana Sexual Assault Laws

Child solicitation Crime & Punishment in Indiana :

The Indiana code § 35-42-4-6 defines three degrees of the crime child solicitation, each with associated punishments. The degree of the crime depends on the specifics of the crime committed, with higher degrees of the charge generally receiving harsher punishments.

Severity	Child solicitation - Charge Description	Punishment
Class B felony STATUTORY	If the crime is committed using a computer network and offender has a previous unrelated conviction for the offense using a computer network.	A maximum of 10 years in prison; up to a $10,000 fine
Class C felony STATUTORY	If the crime is committed by using a computer network.	A maximum of 4 years in prison; up to a $10,000 fine
Class D felony STATUTORY	If a person age 21 or older knowingly or intentionally commands, authorizes, urges, incites, requests or advises an individual between 14 and 16 (or a person the offender believes to be between 14 years old and 16 years old) to perform any fondling or touching intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the older person. If a person age 21 or older knowingly or intentionally commands, authorizes, urges, incites, requests or advises an individual between 14 and 16 (or a person the offender believes to be between 14 years old and 16 years old) to perform deviate sexual conduct. If a person age 21 or older knowingly or intentionally commands, authorizes, urges, incites, requests or advises an individual between 14 and 16 (or a person the offender believes to be between 14 years old and 16 years old) to perform sexual intercourse. If a person age 18 or older knowingly or intentionally commands, authorizes, urges, incites, requests or advises an individual under the age of 14 to perform any fondling or touching intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the older person. If a person age 18 or older knowingly or intentionally commands, authorizes, urges, incites, requests or advises an individual under the age of 14 to perform deviate sexual conduct. If a person age 18 or older knowingly or intentionally commands, authorizes, urges, incites, requests or advises an individual under the age of 14 to perform sexual intercourse.	A maximum of 1.5 years in prison; up to a $10,000 fine

Indiana law allows child solicitation to be enforced as a statutory charge. This means that this charge can be applied to cases in which the victim is younger than the Indiana Age of Consent, even if the victim willingly engages in sexual relations with the defendant.

Child solicitation is a charge that is unique to Indiana. Crimes that would be prosecuted as child solicitation in Indiana will be prosecuted under a different statute depending on the state in which the crime takes place.

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