Indiana Child Enticement Laws

An individual that resides in the state of Indiana can be convicted of child enticement if the following can be proven in a court of law:

• That a person over the age of 18 years old
• Intentionally and with knowledge of their age
• Solicits, entices, urges, requests or advises in person, by telephone, in writing, or by any advertisement or other means of contact
• A child under the age of 14 years old to engage
• In sexual intercourse
• Or deviant sexual conduct; or
• Any fondling or touching intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the older person;

A person can also be convinced of child enticement if it can be proven in a court of law:

• That a person over the age of 21 years old
• Intentionally and with knowledge of their age
• Solicits, entices, urges, requests or advises in person, by telephone, in writing, or by any advertisement or other means of contact
• A child under the age of 16 but over the age of 14 years old to engage
• In sexual intercourse
• Or deviant sexual conduct; or
• Any fondling or touching intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the older person;

Penalties for Child Enticement in Indiana

If a defendant uses a computer network they shall be guilty of a class C felony with a maximum prison sentence of four years and a fine not to exceed $10.000. Defendants will also have to register as a sex offender.

Defense of Child Enticement in Indiana

There are a number of defenses that may be available to a person that has been charged with child enticement:

• Involuntary intoxication
• Mental disease or defect
• Duress amounting to the use of force or violence that cannot be resisted.
• The defendant is under the age of 14.

 Attempted Child Enticement in Indiana

A person attempts to seduce, entice, allure, convince, or persuade a child to engage in sexual act or conduct via an online or electronic transmission device or to seduce, entice, allure, or convince a minor child’s parents to consent to the minor child’s engagement in unlawful sexual conduct, when an individual takes a substantial step towards enticing a child or, a law enforcement officer posing as a minor child. An attempt to commit a crime is a felony or misdemeanor of the same class as the crime attempted

When to Talk to a Lawyer

A person charged with a crime should contact an attorney as soon as possible.  Only a licensed attorney with criminal law experience can properly assist a defendant in the preparation and defense of his or her case.