IN Code § 35-42-4-7 (2021)
2021 Indiana Code|Title 35. Criminal Law and Procedure|Article 42. Offenses Against the Person|Chapter 4. Sex Crimes|35-42-4-7. Child Seduction

Sec. 7. (a) As used in this section, "adoptive parent" has the meaning set forth in IC 31-9-2-6.(b) As used in this section, "adoptive grandparent" means the parent of an adoptive parent.(c) As used in this section, "charter school" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-2.5.(d) As used in this section, "child care worker" means a person who:(1) provides care, supervision, or instruction to a child within the scope of the person's employment in a shelter care facility;(2) is employed by a:(A) school corporation;(B) charter school;(C) nonpublic school; or(D) special education cooperative;attended by a child who is the victim of a crime under this chapter; or(3) is:(A) affiliated with a:(i) school corporation;(ii) charter school;(iii) nonpublic school; or(iv) special education cooperative;attended by a child who is the victim of a crime under this chapter, regardless of how or whether the person is compensated;(B) in a position of trust in relation to a child who attends the school; or cooperative;(C) engaged in the provision of care or supervision to a child who attends the school; or cooperative; and(D) at least four (4) years older than the child who is the victim of a crime under this chapter.The term does not include a student who attends the school or cooperative.(e) As used in this section, "custodian" means any person who resides with a child and is responsible for the child's welfare.(f) As used in this section, "mental health professional" means:(1) a mental health counselor licensed under IC 25-23.6-8.5;(2) a psychologist; or(3) a psychiatrist.(g) As used in this section, "military recruiter" means a member of:(1) the United States Air Force;(2) the United States Army;(3) the United States Coast Guard;(4) the United States Marine Corps;(5) the United States Navy;(6) any reserve components of the military forces listed in subdivisions (1) through (5); or(7) the Indiana National Guard;whose primary job function, classification, or specialty is recruiting individuals to enlist with an entity listed in subdivisions (1) through (7).(h) As used in this section, "nonpublic school" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-12.(i) For purposes of this section, a person has a "professional relationship" with a child if:(1) the person:(A) has a license issued by the state or a political subdivision on the basis of the person's training and experience that authorizes the person to carry out a particular occupation; or(B) is employed in a position in which counseling, supervising, instructing, or recruiting children forms a significant part of the employment; and(2) the person has a relationship with a child that is based on the person's employment or licensed status as described in subdivision (1).The term includes a relationship between a child and a mental health professional or military recruiter. The term does not include a coworker relationship between a child and a person described in subdivision (1)(B).(j) As used in this section, "school corporation" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-16.(k) As used in this section, "special education cooperative" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-35-5-1.(l) As used in this section, "stepparent" means an individual who is married to a child's custodial or noncustodial parent and is not the child's adoptive parent.(m) If a person who:(1) is at least eighteen (18) years of age; and(2) is the:(A) guardian, adoptive parent, adoptive grandparent, custodian, or stepparent of; or(B) child care worker for;a child less than eighteen (18) years of age;engages with the child in sexual intercourse, other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5), or any fondling or touching with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the adult, the person commits child seduction.(n) A person who:(1) has or had a professional relationship with a child less than eighteen (18) years of age whom the person knows to be less than eighteen (18) years of age;(2) may exert undue influence on the child because of the person's current or previous professional relationship with the child; and(3) uses or exerts the person's professional relationship to engage in sexual intercourse, other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5), or any fondling or touching with the child with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of the child or the person;commits child seduction.(o) A law enforcement officer who:(1) is at least five (5) years older than a child who is less than eighteen (18) years of age;(2) has contact with the child while acting within the scope of the law enforcement officer's official duties with respect to the child; and(3) uses or exerts the law enforcement officer's professional relationship with the child to engage with the child in:(A) sexual intercourse;(B) other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5); or(C) any fondling or touching with the child with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of the child or the law enforcement officer;commits child seduction.(p) In determining whether a person used or exerted the person's professional relationship with the child to engage in sexual intercourse, other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5), or any fondling or touching with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of the child or the person under this section, the trier of fact may consider one (1) or more of the following:(1) The age difference between the person and the child.(2) Whether the person was in a position of trust with respect to the child.(3) Whether the person's conduct with the child violated any ethical obligations of the person's profession or occupation.(4) The authority that the person had over the child.(5) Whether the person exploited any particular vulnerability of the child.(6) Any other evidence relevant to the person's ability to exert undue influence over the child.(q) Child seduction under this section is:(1) a Level 6 felony if the child is at least sixteen (16) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age and the person or law enforcement officer engaged in any fondling or touching with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of:(A) the child; or(B) the person or law enforcement officer;(2) a Level 5 felony if the child is at least sixteen (16) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age and the person or law enforcement officer engaged in sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5) with the child;(3) a Level 5 felony if the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age and the person or law enforcement officer engaged in any fondling or touching with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of:(A) the child; or(B) the person or law enforcement officer;(4) a Level 4 felony if the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age and the person or law enforcement officer engaged in sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5) with the child;(5) a Level 3 felony if the child is thirteen (13) years of age or under and the person or law enforcement officer engaged in any fondling or touching with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of:(A) the child; or(B) the person or law enforcement officer; and(6) a Level 2 felony if the child is thirteen (13) years of age or under and the person or law enforcement officer engaged in sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5) with the child.As added by P.L.158-1987, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.1-1997, SEC.148; P.L.71-1998, SEC.5; P.L.228-2001, SEC.5; P.L.161-2003, SEC.10; P.L.1-2005, SEC.228; P.L.125-2009, SEC.7; P.L.114-2012, SEC.138; P.L.208-2013, SEC.8; P.L.158-2013, SEC.443; P.L.168-2014, SEC.71; P.L.226-2014(ts), SEC.5; P.L.233-2015, SEC.324; P.L.40-2019, SEC.12.