Court Opinion

ID: 9803560
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 15:46:07.73997+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:53:09.404581
License: Public Domain

PYLE, Judge,
dissenting.
The majority holds that a protected person under a no-contact order issued pursuant to Indiana Code § 35-46-1-15.1 cannot be convicted of aiding, inducing, or causing another to violate that order. The opinion ably outlines the policy supporting this view. However, I believe that the plain language of the statutory regime used by our General Assembly permits the prosecution of a protected person who deliberately seeks to aid another to disobey a court order for protection. While the majority’s policy position may, in fact, be consonant with the General Assembly’s intent, I believe it should be left for the legislative branch to explicitly exclude the prosecution of protected persons. As a result, I would affirm the trial court’s judgment.