CHAPTER 2. INTIMIDATION AND OTHER OFFENSES RELATING TO COMMUNICATIONS
IC 35-45-2
Chapter 2. Intimidation and Other Offenses Relating to
Communications
IC 35-45-2-1
Intimidation
Sec. 1. (a) A person who communicates a threat to another person,
with the intent:
(1) that the other person engage in conduct against the other
person's will;
(2) that the other person be placed in fear of retaliation for a
prior lawful act; or
(3) of causing:
(A) a dwelling, a building, or another structure; or
(B) a vehicle;
to be evacuated;
commits intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) However, the offense is a:
(1) Class D felony if:
(A) the threat is to commit a forcible felony;
(B) the person to whom the threat is communicated:
(i) is a law enforcement officer;
(ii) is a judge or bailiff of any court;
(iii) is a witness (or the spouse or child of a witness) in
any pending criminal proceeding against the person
making the threat;
(iv) is an employee of a school corporation;
(v) is a community policing volunteer;
(vi) is an employee of a court;
(vii) is an employee of a probation department; or
(viii) is an employee of a community corrections program.
(C) the person has a prior unrelated conviction for an offense
under this section concerning the same victim; or
(D) the threat is communicated using property, including
electronic equipment or systems, of a school corporation or
other governmental entity; and
(2) Class C felony if, while committing it, the person draws or
uses a deadly weapon.
(c) "Threat" means an expression, by words or action, of an
intention to:
(1) unlawfully injure the person threatened or another person,
or damage property;
(2) unlawfully subject a person to physical confinement or
restraint;
(3) commit a crime;
(4) unlawfully withhold official action, or cause such
withholding;
(5) unlawfully withhold testimony or information with respect
to another person's legal claim or defense, except for a
reasonable claim for witness fees or expenses;
(6) expose the person threatened to hatred, contempt, disgrace,
or ridicule;
(7) falsely harm the credit or business reputation of the person
threatened; or
(8) cause the evacuation of a dwelling, a building, another
structure, or a vehicle.
As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.5. Amended by Acts 1977,
P.L.340, SEC.71; Acts 1981, P.L.300, SEC.3; P.L.183-1984, SEC.6;
P.L.325-1985, SEC.1; P.L.242-1993, SEC.3; P.L.164-1993, SEC.12;
P.L.1-1994, SEC.169; P.L.241-2001, SEC.3; P.L.175-2003, SEC.3;
P.L.3-2006, SEC.2.
IC 35-45-2-2
Harassment; "obscene message" defined
Sec. 2. (a) A person who, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm
another person but with no intent of legitimate communication:
(1) makes a telephone call, whether or not a conversation
ensues;
(2) communicates with a person by telegraph, mail, or other
form of written communication;
(3) transmits an obscene message, or indecent or profane words,
on a Citizens Radio Service channel; or
(4) uses a computer network (as defined in IC 35-43-2-3(a)) or
other form of electronic communication to:
(A) communicate with a person; or
(B) transmit an obscene message or indecent or profane
words to a person;
commits harassment, a Class B misdemeanor.
(b) A message is obscene if:
(1) the average person, applying contemporary community
standards, finds that the dominant theme of the message, taken
as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in sex;
(2) the message refers to sexual conduct in a patently offensive
way; and
(3) the message, taken as a whole, lacks serious artistic, literary,
political, or scientific value.
As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.5. Amended by Acts 1977,
P.L.340, SEC.72; Acts 1977, P.L.343, SEC.1; Acts 1978, P.L.82,
SEC.4; P.L.216-1996, SEC.22.
IC 35-45-2-3
Unlawful use of a communications medium; definitions
Sec. 3. (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally:
(1) refuses to yield a party line upon request by another person
who states that he wishes to make an emergency call from a
telephone on that party line;
(2) refuses to yield a Citizens Radio Service channel upon
request by another person who states that he wishes to make an
emergency call on that channel; or
(3) obtains the use of a party line or Citizens Radio Service
channel by falsely stating that he wishes to make an emergency
call;
commits unlawful use of a communications medium, a Class B
misdemeanor.
(b) "Party line" means a common telephone line for two (2) or
more subscribers.
(c) "Emergency call" means a telephone call or radio message in
which the caller or sender reasonably believes that a human being or
property is in jeopardy and that prompt summoning of aid is
essential.
As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.5. Amended by Acts 1977,
P.L.340, SEC.73; Acts 1977, P.L.343, SEC.2.
IC 35-45-2-4
Unlawful disclosure
Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to an employee who
discloses information under IC 35-33.5.
(b) An employee of a telegraph company who knowingly or
intentionally discloses the contents of a message sent or received, to
a person other than a sender or receiver or authorized agent of either,
commits unlawful disclosure, a Class A infraction.
(c) An employee of a telephone company who knowingly or
intentionally discloses the contents of a conversation over a line of
the company commits unlawful disclosure, a Class A infraction.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.26, SEC.23. Amended by P.L.161-1990,
SEC.4.
IC 35-45-2-5
Interference with the reporting of a crime
Sec. 5. A person who, with the intent to commit, conceal, or aid
in the commission of a crime, knowingly or intentionally interferes
with or prevents an individual from:
(1) using a 911 emergency telephone system;
(2) obtaining medical assistance; or
(3) making a report to a law enforcement officer;
commits interference with the reporting of a crime, a Class A
misdemeanor.
As added by P.L.71-2002, SEC.1.