Child Exploitation - Indiana Sexual Assault Laws

Child Exploitation Crime & Punishment in Indiana :

The Indiana code § 35-42-4-4 defines two degrees of the crime child exploitation, 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 Exploitation - Charge Description	Punishment
Class C felony STATUTORY	Making a computer available to another person that contains matter that depicts or describes sexual conduct by a child less than 18. For knowingly managing, producing, sponsoring, creating, disseminating or exhibiting (or offering to disseminate or exhibit) matter that includes, depicts or describes sexual conduct by a child under age 18.	A maximum of 4 years in prison; up to a $10,000 fine
Class D felony STATUTORY	Intentional possession of materials that depict or describe sexual conduct by a child under 16	A maximum of 1.5 years in prison; up to a $10,000 fine

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

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