Indiana § 35-42-4-9 - Sexual misconduct with a minor

§ 35-42-4-9. Sexual misconduct with a minor

Sec. 9. (a) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally performs or submits to sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5) with a child less than sixteen (16) years of age, commits sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is:

(1) a Level 4 felony if it is committed by a person at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and

(2) a Level 1 felony if it is committed by using or threatening the use of deadly force, if it is committed while armed with a deadly weapon, if it results in serious bodily injury, or if the commission of the offense is 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.

(b) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally performs or submits to any fondling or touching with a child less than sixteen (16) years of age with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the older person, commits sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 6 felony. However, the offense is:

(1) a Level 5 felony if it is committed by a person at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and

(2) a Level 2 felony if it is committed by using or threatening the use of deadly force, while armed with a deadly weapon, or if the commission of the offense is 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.

(c) It is a defense that the accused person reasonably believed that the child was at least sixteen (16) years of age at the time of the conduct. However, this subsection does not apply to an offense described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2).

(d) It is a defense that the child is or has ever been married. However, this subsection does not apply to an offense described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2).

(e) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section if all the following apply:

(1) The person is not more than four (4) years older than the victim.

(2) 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.

(3) The crime:

(A) was not committed by a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

(B) was not committed by using or threatening the use of deadly force;

(C) was not committed while armed with a deadly weapon;

(D) did not result in serious bodily injury;

(E) 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

(F) was not committed by a person having a position of authority or substantial influence over the victim.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

As added by P.L.79-1994, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.33-1996, SEC.9; P.L.216-1996, SEC.21; P.L.31-1998, SEC.8; P.L.266-2003, SEC.1; P.L.216-2007, SEC.45; P.L.158-2013, SEC.445; P.L.144-2018, SEC.28; P.L.40-2019, SEC.13; P.L.186-2025, SEC.238.